Data Study Group Final Report: Telenor

Green Radio: Dynamic power saving configuration for mobile networks

Traffic demand of a cell site or sector exhibits strong spatial and temporal variation. For instance, commercial areas only experience high traffic demand during day-time while close to zero demand in the evenings and weekends. Power consumption in mobile networks varies in accordance with network traffic load [ 9]. Mobile network parameters are typically statically configured, hence the cell sites a redimensioned for handling peak traffic loads at all times. This leads to wastage of network resources during off-peak hours resulting in additional power consumption [3].

The goal of this challenge is to minimise the power consumption in radio-cells or sectors in order to reduce overall operational expenditure (OPEX) incurred by mobile operators. Specifically, our goal is to develop a framework that understands and takes advantage of the traffic load variations by automating next-day power saving schemes for each individual cell tower in a country. Expected outcome of the project is an algorithm which determines, based on current load and expected demand profile in the area, when to turn off radio-cells or sectors to save power.