Sophia Antipolis, 17 February 2015
ETSI has just released for member vote ETSI Standard ES 203 228 that deals with the definition of metrics and methods to measure the energy efficiency performance of mobile radio access networks. It adopts an approach based on the measurement of such performance on small networks, for feasibility and simplicity purposes. This specification was developed jointly with ITU-T Study Group 5 and in liaison with 3GPPTM and GSMA.
ES 203 228 deals with the radio access part of the mobile network, and more specifically radio base stations, backhauling systems, radio controllers and other infrastructure radio site equipment. The technologies covered include GSM, UMTS and LTE (including LTE-A). The specification helps provide a common reference whenever a test of mobile network energy efficiency is performed over a radio access network. The document includes implementation guidelines, an extrapolation method to extend the applicability of the assessment of energy efficiency to wider networks as well as an “Assessment report”, requested as the outcome of the measurements.
ES 203 228 is the first specification providing energy efficiency measurement methods and defining metrics on live mobile networks, facilitating a uniformity of evaluation. The liaison with 3GPP and GSMA and the joint cooperation with ITU-T confirm the need that the sector has for a specification on these issues.
ETSI previously delivered ETSI ES 202 706 dealing with the measurements of the efficiency of Base Stations in testing laboratories.