Nokia Siemens Networks aims for greener mobile networks

According to ICT market analysts Ovum, Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) has announced a new ‘solution’ aimed at helping mobile network operators reduce their energy use and carbon footprints. This forms part of a move by the vendor to position itself as a ‘green’ supplier.

“NSN’s move is of course a welcome one,” observes Jeremy Green, Ovum’s principal analyst. “The NSN solution is aimed at reducing power consumption in the radio access network, which it says represents 80% of the overall network power consumption. There are four components to this:

• reducing the overall number of base stations through improved network planning and optimisation;

• improving base station design, both to reduce power consumption and to remove constraints on site location, thereby making network optimisation easier;

• reducing the need for air conditioning through better design and location, which alone can result in a 30% reduction in energy use;

• better operational software, which enables base stations to power down during periods of low usage while bouncing back quickly if there is a sudden increase in demand.”

Nokia Siemens claims that its base station uses 25% less energy than the next best model, with energy consumption levels of 800 W and 500 W respectively for its GSM and WCDMA base stations. It hopes to further reduce this to 650 W and 300 W respectively by 2010.

“NSN is also attempting to reduce its own carbon footprint, even though it estimates that 80% of its products’ impact comes from their lifelong use rather than their production,” adds Green. “It is working with independent auditors to measure its CO₂ emissions and expects to publish targets next year. In the meantime, it claims that video conferencing has already allowed it to hold 20,000 virtual meetings last year — though it is unable to furnish any information as to how much this has allowed it to reduce executive travel.”