In this context, the Sustainability Focus Group (SuFG), one of the working groups of the O-RAN Alliance, the standardisation body that drives the development of specifications for Open Radio Access Networks (Open RAN), has presented the White Paper “Potential Energy Savings Features in O-RAN”. This document explores advanced strategies to improve energy efficiency in O-RAN-based networks and has had the collaboration of Telefónica’s Energy Efficiency and Radio Access (GCTIO) teams, which have actively contributed to its development and review.
The White Paper, in addition to delving into energy efficiency techniques already established in traditional Radio Access Networks (RANs), such as cell and carrier shutdown and RF Channel reconfiguration, also introduces innovative approaches to optimize energy consumption in key network elements, such as:
- Radio Units (O-RU): through dynamic voltage adaptation, dual operating mode, artificial load generation and integration of renewable energies.
- O-Cloud environments: through intelligent workload management and improvements in the coordination between network functions and O-Cloud infrastructure.
On the other hand, the following components of the O-RAN architecture play a fundamental role in these strategies:
- Service Management and Orchestration (SMO): Orchestration of resources in the network.
- Non-Real-Time RAN Intelligent Controller (Non-RT RIC): Development of long-term optimization policies powered by AI/ML through rApps.
- Near-Real-Time RAN Intelligent Controller (Near-RT RIC): Execution of adjustments in near real-time using xApps.
Together, these elements form a flexible and integrated framework that drives the dynamic and effective implementation of energy-saving solutions, which will allow O-RAN to position itself as a benchmark in sustainable and efficient grid operations.
These strategies are aligned with 3GPP Release-18 capabilities, such as Discontinuous Transmit/Receive (DTX/DRX) and spatial power saving methods, which seek to significantly reduce power consumption without compromising performance or quality of service.
We invite you to read the full document to learn more about these innovative strategies and how they are transforming the future of telecommunications towards a more sustainable approach. O-RAN White Paper Template.
Other publications of the Sustainability Focus Group
In 2024, the Sustainability Focus Group (SuFG) published its first technical report on “Circular Economy Guidelines for Network Equipment”. Its main objective is to promote sustainable business models in the telecommunications industry by implementing a circular economy for network equipment. This includes the manufacture of eco-designed products, as well as the promotion of their reuse and recycling. The purpose is to standardize circularity criteria to minimize environmental impact at different stages of the life cycle. Learn More
Currently, Telefónica is working on another White Paper, also in the context of the SuFG. It is titled “Improving Hardware Energy Efficiency in O-RAN Components” and highlights several innovative technologies, including liquid cooling, uncore frequency scaling, idle power management, reducing direct current (DC) power losses, and reconfigurable smart surfaces (RIS).
Other related projects
Within the framework of the European Union’s SNS-JU (Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking) research project funding programme, Telefónica, aligned with sustainability and energy efficiency in radio access networks, is participating in different projects along these lines. One of them is the “Beyond 5G Artificial Intelligence Assisted Energy Efficient Open Radio Access Network – BeGREEN”, which proposes scalable radio access networks that optimize energy consumption while managing the increase in traffic and services. It uses AI/ML and the O-RAN standard to improve energy efficiency at the hardware, link, and system level, analyzing behavior patterns and optimizing responses. In addition, it establishes a techno-economic basis for evaluating emerging technologies, such as 5G and 6G, in order to achieve energy sustainability goals.
About the O-RAN Alliance’s Sustainability Focus Group (SuFG)
The Sustainability Focus Group (SuFG), co-chaired by Telefónica, Rakuten, Deutsche Telekom and NEC, works in coordination with the internal working groups of the O-RAN Alliance to optimize energy consumption, reduce environmental impact and make mobile networks more sustainable. SuFG leads and prioritizes energy efficiency initiatives, prepares technical and strategic reports, identifies opportunities for improvement and accelerates their implementation to ensure compliance with sustainability objectives.
