09-07-2013, 04:02 PM
Reducing Energy Consumption of Wireless Communications
[attachment=56538]
Abstract
Wireless communications has been recognized as a
key enabler to the growth of the future economy. There is an
unprecedented growth in data volume (10x in last 5 years) and
associated energy consumption (20%) in the Information and
Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure.
The challenge is how to: meet the exponential growth in data
traffic, deliver high-speed wide-area coverage to rural areas,
whilst reducing the energy consumed. This paper focuses on the
cellular wireless communication aspect, which constitutes approximately
11% of the ICT energy consumption. The paper shows
that with careful redesign of the cellular network architecture,
up to 80% total energy can be saved. This is equivalent to saving
500 TWh globally and 1.4 TWh in the United Kingdom.
INTRODUCTION
ICT Energy Consumption
Currently, the energy story as shown in Fig. 1 is as follows:
0.5% of the worlds total energy is consumed by wireless
communications, equivalent to 650TWh (35 2000MW
power plants).
Over 90% of this energy is consumed in the outdoor
cellular network, of which 75% is consumed by basestations.
In terms of digital connectivity, approximately 70% of
the developed world and less than 20% of the developing
world is digitally connected [1]. Yet, the volume of data
communication has increased by more than a factor of 10
over the past 5 years. To foster economic growth and reduce
the wealth and knowledge gap: a low energy solution that
can increase connectivity and meet the growing data demand
must be found.
EXPANDED MOBILE NETWORK
3G to 4G Migration
The current 3rd Generation (3G) network is based on spread
spectrum technology and operates in a 5MHz band. This is
known as the High-Speed-Packet-Access (HSPA) Network.
Ofcom plans to sell up to 20MHz of new bandwidth for
the 4th Generation (4G) network, some made available from
Analogue-Digital switch-over. The 4G cellular network is
known as the Long-Term-Evolution (LTE). The improved
spectral efficiency due to spectrum access technologies and
increased bandwidth allows up to 70% capacity improvement
[2] and 35 to 50% energy reduction [3].
Energy Story
The emerging energy story is that there are two dimensions
to consider when deploying a new low energy network: peak
traffic value and dynamic variation of this traffic load. The
research combines the techniques of 4G, cell deployment,
relays and dynamic cell changes to create a low energy
architecture. The resulting energy saving achieved at the low
load scenarios is 77%; and the least energy saving (60%) is
achieved at the high load scenario of a peak traffic profile.
CONCLUSION
This paper has shown that the same wireless information
exchange rate can be achieved with significantly less energy
consumption (77% reduction). The impact this has on the
Macro-single-cell deployment with high power directional relays.
digital society and economy is that increased volumes of
data transfer in the future can consume a reduced amount
of energy. Currently, the proposed solution can save up to
500TWh globally and 1.4TWh in the UK. This saving is set
to rise by 200% in the next decade, which amounts to the
equivalent of saving 40% of a typical UK nuclear power plant.
[attachment=56538]
Abstract
Wireless communications has been recognized as a
key enabler to the growth of the future economy. There is an
unprecedented growth in data volume (10x in last 5 years) and
associated energy consumption (20%) in the Information and
Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure.
The challenge is how to: meet the exponential growth in data
traffic, deliver high-speed wide-area coverage to rural areas,
whilst reducing the energy consumed. This paper focuses on the
cellular wireless communication aspect, which constitutes approximately
11% of the ICT energy consumption. The paper shows
that with careful redesign of the cellular network architecture,
up to 80% total energy can be saved. This is equivalent to saving
500 TWh globally and 1.4 TWh in the United Kingdom.
INTRODUCTION
ICT Energy Consumption
Currently, the energy story as shown in Fig. 1 is as follows:
0.5% of the worlds total energy is consumed by wireless
communications, equivalent to 650TWh (35 2000MW
power plants).
Over 90% of this energy is consumed in the outdoor
cellular network, of which 75% is consumed by basestations.
In terms of digital connectivity, approximately 70% of
the developed world and less than 20% of the developing
world is digitally connected [1]. Yet, the volume of data
communication has increased by more than a factor of 10
over the past 5 years. To foster economic growth and reduce
the wealth and knowledge gap: a low energy solution that
can increase connectivity and meet the growing data demand
must be found.
EXPANDED MOBILE NETWORK
3G to 4G Migration
The current 3rd Generation (3G) network is based on spread
spectrum technology and operates in a 5MHz band. This is
known as the High-Speed-Packet-Access (HSPA) Network.
Ofcom plans to sell up to 20MHz of new bandwidth for
the 4th Generation (4G) network, some made available from
Analogue-Digital switch-over. The 4G cellular network is
known as the Long-Term-Evolution (LTE). The improved
spectral efficiency due to spectrum access technologies and
increased bandwidth allows up to 70% capacity improvement
[2] and 35 to 50% energy reduction [3].
Energy Story
The emerging energy story is that there are two dimensions
to consider when deploying a new low energy network: peak
traffic value and dynamic variation of this traffic load. The
research combines the techniques of 4G, cell deployment,
relays and dynamic cell changes to create a low energy
architecture. The resulting energy saving achieved at the low
load scenarios is 77%; and the least energy saving (60%) is
achieved at the high load scenario of a peak traffic profile.
CONCLUSION
This paper has shown that the same wireless information
exchange rate can be achieved with significantly less energy
consumption (77% reduction). The impact this has on the
Macro-single-cell deployment with high power directional relays.
digital society and economy is that increased volumes of
data transfer in the future can consume a reduced amount
of energy. Currently, the proposed solution can save up to
500TWh globally and 1.4TWh in the UK. This saving is set
to rise by 200% in the next decade, which amounts to the
equivalent of saving 40% of a typical UK nuclear power plant.