- Three has been working with Ericsson on network energy performance
- It claims to have improved network energy efficiency by up to 70% at some sites
- Ericsson and BT weigh in on the proposed Three-Vodafone UK merger
Three UK may be focusing much of its energies on attempting to persuade regulators to let it merge with Vodafone UK, but it is still managing to find time to improve its own 5G network, with a particular emphasis on artificial intelligence-fueled sustainability efforts.
The operator has been working with Sweden-based Ericsson over the past 18 months on improving network energy performance, using a combination of “energy-efficient radios,” AI and data analytics.
The energy-efficient radio in question is Ericsson’s dual-band Radio 4490, which is said to consume less power and is 25% lighter than previous models, “simplifying site access and speeding up site upgrades.”
In addition, Three said it has implemented a series of software features that “consume less power per radio during low traffic hours.” A key benefit here is that the operator is able to switch off radio components when they are not active, and then switch them on again “in microseconds” when required.
Indeed, the ability to autonomously switch radio equipment on and off is acknowledged as one of the key ways for mobile operators to reduce the power consumption of networks.
Three observed that the partnership with Ericsson has resulted in an improvement of network energy efficiency of up to 70% at selected sites, “all completed while improving network performance but reducing site footprint and lowering CO2 emissions.”
“We plan to take these learnings on board for future projects, ensuring that we continue to improve the environmental impact of our network,” said Iain Milligan, chief network officer at Three UK.
Waiting game
On the topic of the proposed U.K. merger with Vodafone, all eyes remain on the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which is due to give its verdict on whether or not the deal should be approved by October 12.
In the meantime, certain interested parties have weighed in with their responses to the competitive concerns set out by the CMA, including rival operator BT and Ericsson.
Ericsson has provided a broadly positive assessment of the proposed merger, saying it can “foster a more sustainable market structure to secure a return on investment for digital infrastructure and attract increased capital into the network.”
However, it comes as little surprise that BT has offered a more critical response. BT, which owns mobile operator EE, particularly highlighted that the merged entity would gain a “disproportionate share of capacity and spectrum,” and is also concerned about the impact the merger would have on MBNL, its own network-sharing joint venture with Three UK.
Overall, BT concurs with the CMA’s initial view that the proposed merger “raises serious competition concerns.”
“If completed, [it] would lead to a [substantial lessening of competition/SLC], to the detriment of UK consumers and the UK mobile telecommunications sector as a whole,” BT said.