This standard is the first to define metrics and measurement methods for RANs, and it provides a common reference point for evaluating their performance quality. Implementing this standard will introduce uniformity in the methods used for these evaluations and, in parallel, create a common basis for interpreting the results.
“Improving energy efficiency has become a central element for all ITU standardization areas,” said Houlin Zhao, ITU Secretary-General. “We are entering a world that will host billions of connected devices, making energy efficiency essential for the functionality and environmental sustainability of ICT networks.”.
Luis Jorge Romero, Director General of ETSI, stated: “ETSI has a long tradition of developing market-oriented standards and specifications to achieve greater energy efficiency in telecommunications networks and equipment. We are particularly pleased with the outcome of this cooperation, which has resulted in ITU-T L.1330 and its technical equivalent, ETSI ES 203 228.”
The new standard, ITU-T Recommendation L.1330 “Measurement and metrics of energy efficiency for telecom networks”, was developed by ITU-T Study Group 5 in cooperation with the ETSI Technical Committee on Environmental Engineering, and in coordination with the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and the GSM Association (GSMA).
ITU-T L.1330 recognizes that achieving maximum energy efficiency for individual equipment within a network does not guarantee maximum overall energy efficiency. The standard adopts a more holistic view of network infrastructure (RAN) and incorporates the energy efficiency implications of interactions between interconnected equipment within the context of complex networks.
The scope of the standard extends to base stations, interconnection systems, radio controllers, and other infrastructure equipment at radio sites. The technologies covered are GSM, UMTS, and LTE (including LTE-Advanced).
ITU-T L.1330 offers a pragmatic measurement approach, focusing on the performance quality of 'partial' networks to extrapolate energy efficiency estimates for 'total' networks. It stipulates that a total network is defined by its topological, geographical, or demographic boundaries and allows for energy efficiency estimates of an operator's network, a national or continental network, or networks distinguished by their coverage of urban or rural areas. The results of these estimates are presented in an 'assessment report,' the format of which is described in detail in the standard.
