Page 3 - ETSI-Newsletter-Feb-2017

Power Set to be Key Battleground for 5G Continued (from page 2)

New Network Structures
The way that 5G networks are
constructed will be essentially different
from the approach of previous
generations. These new networks will
rely much more on the deployment
of pico, femto or moving cells, which
will effectively mean that the user is
brought a lot closer to the point of
transmission and the power needed to
transmit the signal will consequently
be lowered. Utilization of the Cloud
is also expected to be of great
importance. Virtualization of network
functions promises to deliver both
increased flexibility and efficiency. This
will mean that rather than transmission
being the dominant component of
overall power consumption, there will
be a shift to the more manageable
computational power dimension
(though this will also present the
industry with certain challenges).
The implementation of massive MIMO Figure 1: Global Mobile Traffic in Exabytes/Month [Source: Cisco]
(multiple-input, multiple-output)
transmission techniques will also prove through to facets of functional design.
to be advantageous - compensating This will allow operators to obtain the
path loss and enabling stronger signals system-wide energy savings they need.
while consuming less energy. This,
along with adaptive beamforming, As an organization working to define
could help to counter the limited range global standards that enable more
of mm wavelength transmission (which productive and environmentally
will begin to be employed to boost data sustainable technology developments,
rates). Having enhanced the power ETSI is focussing closely on energy
performance of the underlying network efficiency within the next generation
technology, there will subsequently be communication networks. ETSI has
an opportunity to make greater use recently embarked on an investigation
of alternative energy sources, such into possible new metrics for energy
as photovoltaics, to supplement the efficiency within 5G systems. The
conventional power supply. results are due to be published
in a Technical Report towards the
One of the most end of 2017. Meanwhile, 3GPP has
significant factors here been actively involved in a study of
will be keeping the energy efficiency of mobile networks
taking in the implications of various
power consumption to an deployment scenarios, operating
absolute minimum. conditions and coordinated energy
saving between different parts of the
5G needs to furnish operators with network. ETSI and 3GPP are also heavily New Brochure:
a business model that is sustainable engaged in determining the exact
in terms of the financial investment system architecture and functional ETSI Long Term
required and the day-to-day running requirements of the 5G standard and
costs, as well as in relation to its long methods of monitoring and controlling Strategy 2016-2021
term effect on the environment - so power consumption will be at the heart
that international legislative guidelines of this. Our Long Term Strategy is developed by
can be met. The technical obstacles our members. It defines our Vision, our
that operators face in respect to power First published by European Energy Mission and nine basic principles which
efficiency will be challenging but are Innovation, December 2016 constitute our core. It also outlines our
not insurmountable. Improved energy five strategic objectives
efficiency needs to be a consideration https://goo.gl/YBK24M h Being at the Heart of Digital
of each constituent part of the h Being an Enabler of Standards
proposed network technology, covering
everything from how the system h Being Global
architecture is implemented right h Being Versatile
h Being Inclusive
https://goo.gl/7AwocX

February 2017 THE STANDARD | 3