Sustainability Challenges in Radio access Networks

Abstract

The emergency related to climate changes urgently calls for deep changes of the attitude with which we consume natural resources. Changes are needed in all sectors, including Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), which are estimated to contribute to emissions for a quantity between 2 and 4% of the total emissions [1]. Among the ICT sectors, radio access networks are particularly critical and challenging due their expected and fast growth [2]. A remarkable example is the deployment of 5G networks. Despite relying on energy efficiency already by design, 5G networks are expected to induce a significant increase of energy consumption of access networks [3] and mobile operators expect their operational expenditure to double in a few years by effect of the 5G rollout. Among the solutions that are being considered by operators to reduce energy consumption and the associated costs, as well as emissions, the introduction of renewable energy sources seemsparticularly promising, since it acts directly on the reduction of emissions, instead on solely increasing energy efficiency [2]. The recent improvements of machine learning techniques make it possible to integrate small and local renewable energy generators in small portions of radio access networks, so as to increase their effectiveness, reduce energy losses, enable further optimization of energy usage [4]. In beyond 5G scenarios, the integration of aerial platforms represents a new dimension in the design space of network operation aiming at energy consumption reduction. By off-loading part of the traffic to aerial platforms which are self-sustainable and powered only with solar energy it is possible to reduce the power demand of the networks [5] and to more effectively adapt network operation and its consumption to the availability of green energy..