Mobile Energy Efficiency Network Benchmarking Service launched by GSMA

The GSMA has announced that it is launching the Mobile Energy Efficiency (MEE) Network Benchmarking Service, an initiative that will provide a benchmark measurement of network energy efficiency, and will help mobile network operators (MNOs) lower their energy costs and carbon footprint. With this information, it is now possible to identify the scale of potential efficiency gains and develop programmes to achieve these savings.

Created in cooperation with China Mobile, Telefónica and Telenor, the MEE service will:
+ Quantify cost and CO2e savings for MNOs;
+ Promote a consistent methodology for benchmarking network energy efficiency along with common KPIs;
+ Collate industry data and benchmark outputs to enable MNOs to measure themselves externally and internally, quantifying potential efficiency gains; and
+ Coordinate across the industry and with regulatory stakeholders, so that the benchmarking methodology is adopted as a global standard.

To date, it has been challenging to make meaningful comparisons of mobile networks that, for instance, incorporate different technologies, use different types of power, or are located in countries with different population densities, geographies and climates. The MEE methodology has been devised to “normalise” or adjust energy KPIs for factors outside an MNO’s control in order to make different networks comparable. For this reason, the methodology focuses on operational energy consumption and not on other lifecycle energy measures such as embedded energy in equipment. After normalisation, it is possible to see which networks are over or under-performing in terms of energy consumption and management, and where there might be significant potential to reduce energy costs and emissions.

The methodology benchmarks mobile networks by comparing four KPIs:
+ Mobile network energy consumption per mobile connection;
+ Mobile network energy consumption per cell site;
+ Mobile network energy consumption per unit mobile traffic and
+ Mobile network energy consumption per unit mobile revenue.

MEE is part of the GSMA’s holistic approach to the environment and complements the activities of Green Power for Mobile (GPM), which is advancing the use of renewable energy to power base stations Within GPM the Community Power from Mobile Programme aims to catalyse the deployment of power to previously unserved remote, off-grid areas by leveraging rural mobile networks as primary customers, and using excess power generate to serve local communities.