Zero-emission mobile networks

Solutions for a sustainable path to net-zero

The mobile industry is moving in the right direction in its sustainability efforts. While double-digit growth in data traffic has continued, the industry’s environmental impacts have grown at a slower pace. To maintain this positive development, it is essential for mobile network operators to maximize radio network energy efficiency with the lowest TCO.

We can help you:

Deliver more traffic while reducing RAN energy consumption.
Monetize your network in evolving energy and power reserve markets.
Reduce embodied carbon compensation costs.

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Deliver more mobile traffic with lower energy consumption
Automate and optimize RAN energy efficiency with AI
Modernize with energy-efficient site solutions
Automate energy efficiency for microwave transport with AI and digital twins
Monetize mobile network backup batteries
Reduce embodied carbon compensation costs
Energy-efficient solutions field-proven
Learn more

Mobile network electricity consumption was 10% higher in 2022 compared to 2019, according to GSMA.

Global network traffic is projected to grow 5x-9x through 2033. AI is a major driver for mobile traffic growth.

By 2024, 70 operators have publicly committed to near-term science-based targets of reducing their climate impact, according to GSMA.

Deliver more mobile traffic with lower energy consumption

Network modernization is key to enhancing radio network energy efficiency. 5G technology is 10 times more energy efficient than earlier radio network generations, helping decouple traffic growth from growth in energy consumption. This means that while mobile traffic increases, the electricity use of a 5G network does not grow by the same factor.

We embed energy efficiency into our entire product and service portfolio.

White paper

Radio Access Network energy efficiency

Minimize RAN energy consumption in all traffic conditions

Our radio and baseband portfolio ensures an optimum product fit to match the capacity and coverage needs of all deployment scenarios while minimizing energy consumption across all types of sites.

Our software and hardware architectures optimize power consumption in all traffic conditions:

The latest Nokia ReefShark System-on-Chips (SoC) minimize the electricity consumption of our radio units in low- and medium-traffic conditions.
In the latest baseband generation, the adaptive power savings feature based on the ReefShark SoC enables up to 50% energy savings in zero-load conditions.
Our Extreme Deep Sleep cell switch-off mode reduces energy consumption by up to 97 percent compared to a cell on air but without traffic.
We evolve our mechanisms for muting the resources in both radio units and baseband products to work at an ever-finer granularity and with faster activation and de-activation times. This ensures optimal network quality in all traffic conditions.
We use the latest commercially available Power Amplifier technologies and materials, such as gallium nitride, which reduces power consumption especially in high-traffic conditions.

Orange & Nokia: Atoosa Hatefi on Orange’s sustainability goals

AirScale Radio Access

Automate and optimize RAN energy efficiency with AI

Our AI-based MantaRay Energy solution enhances RAN energy efficiency by automating and optimizing the configuration of energy-saving software features at the cell level. In addition, we can address power consumption through digital network design.

MantaRay NM

Comprehensive energy monitoring, analytics and reporting.
Offers insights to identify sites with high energy usage.

MantaRay SON

Intelligent, AI-powered optimization of energy-saving features.
No compromise on network performance and other KPIs.

Digital Design

Considers interference, load and beam-set configuration
Optimizes cell configuration for overall lower transmit power

Modernize your radio sites with energy-efficient site solutions

At typical radio sites, mobile operators have legacy energy and cooling systems, which can consume about half of the site's power. Our energy-efficient site solutions are a simple answer to their site modernization needs. They help accelerate radio site deployments, reduce power consumption and enable lower maintenance costs.

Our solar energy production systems and backup batteries further increase the site’s energy resiliency, and the share of carbon-free electricity used at radio sites.

Our portfolio includes:

Nokia site solutions for enhanced energy efficiency

Pre-integrated, all-in-one cabinets

Up to 60% reduction in site footprint
Up to 50% faster site deployments

Zero-footprint site solutions

Up to 90% reduction in cooling system power consumption
Up to 30% total site-level energy savings

Nokia Site Solutions

Automate energy efficiency for microwave transport with AI and digital twins

Our Wavence microwave transport solutions are scalable, quick to deploy and optimized for energy efficiency. Features such as simplified site solution, transceiver muting and sleep modes help reduce energy consumption based on traffic load. In addition, the embedded power metering function helps further optimize energy savings.

The AI-assisted automation tool helps replace the time-consuming manual design of sleep mode periods. With the digital twin, our customers can verify the AI-optimized policies in an accurate virtual replica of the network before rolling out the new configurations.

Our solutions ensure optimal microwave transport network quality with maximal energy efficiency and minimal operational costs.

Monetize mobile network backup batteries

Mobile operators typically have small-capacity backup batteries in thousands of radio network sites. The transition toward renewable energy sources may lead to faster variations in electricity spot prices and an increasing demand for power reserves. The energy transition is also fueling technology innovations.

Our Virtual Power Plant control solution brings a monetization and cost saving opportunity for mobile network operators. It enables:

Monetizing the idle backup batteries in fast power reserve markets
Using the energy stored in batteries to avoid high spot electricity prices
Recharging the batteries at lower energy prices.

The software safely integrates batteries into the power reserve market, using machine learning algorithms to optimize power usage and backup capacity. Our technology simplifies participation in auctions, including the Fast Frequency Reserve market, and ensures rapid response and monetization of the backup battery resources.

Triangulates – Monetizing energy market shifts with Virtual Power Plant

Reduce embodied carbon compensation costs

Our energy-efficient products and services help our customers concretely reduce carbon emissions across their value chain and reduce potential embedded carbon compensation costs.

Throughout the radio network product lifecycle, approximately 97% of CO2 emissions are born in the product use stage. The use-stage emissions can be avoided by shifting to carbon-free electricity sources.

The remaining 3% are embodied emissions from components, assembly, materials, packaging and distribution in the manufacturing, transportation and end-of-life stages.

Today, carbon compensation is not mandatory. This cost can be considerable when aiming for net zero. Nokia is committed to net zero by 2040, and we are investing resources to minimize the embodied carbon in our products.