Improving sustainability through green technologies for 6G
Why does climate change matter for business leaders?
Recently, rising energy costs and building sustainability brands have been at the top of the agenda for business leaders, and this trend will continue. Increasing energy prices have made a significant impact on businesses’ bottom lines. The energy efficiency of products and services is now regarded as a part of risk management for business. In addition, strengthening regulations on greenhouse gas emissions is affecting business operations for many Mobile Network Operators’ (MNOs) enterprise customers. For example, carbon pricing will compel MNOs or many companies to take actions to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, such as replacement of their facilities to environmental-friendly products. In ICT fields, products and services provided to customers will also need to be more energy-efficient in order to comply with regulations and cut costs. If ICT companies fail to provide energy-efficient products and services or cannot meet regulatory requirements and demands from the end users for green products, they could suffer business losses and damages to their corporate reputation.
As a result, MNOs are increasingly setting sustainability targets for themselves. Sustainability targets can be achieved through a combination of implementing more sustainable solutions and operations, as well as purchasing carbon offsets. Since purchasing carbon offsets directly impacts a company’s bottom line, it provides a financial incentive for MNOs to adopt more green technologies in their networks in order to minimize the impact. RAN Suppliers like Fujitsu are developing a wide range of green technologies for 6G networks that will enable MNOs to do that.
Why do we need green technology in the network?
6G will enable vastly greater volumes of data. To deliver it economically, the cost per bit must plummet accordingly. To do so, green technologies are essential not only for mitigating the impact of climate change and reducing operators’ carbon footprints, but also delivering cost effective throughput. Energy consumption for communication is expected to explode around 2030 because a variety of services will emerge in the cyber-physical systems, where a range of data collected from sensors in the physical space is analyzed using AI and other technologies. The Japan Science and Technology Agency estimates that ICT-related power consumption in 2030 will significantly exceed the overall power consumption of the world today, according to their report[1]. Therefore, it is necessary to utilize green technologies such as intelligent network technologies and smaller and efficient equipment. Intelligent network technologies enhance energy efficiency through optimization of network resource allocation. Smaller and more efficient equipment also contributes to reduce power consumption.
Green technologies and business impact
Green technologies in communication networks will not only mitigate the impact caused by climate change, but it will also have a big impact on business. First, green technologies will reduce Capital Expenditures (CAPEX). For example, intelligent network technologies reduce the amount of equipment needed, because it optimizes the utilization of the equipment. Secondly, green technologies reduce Operating Expenses (OPEX). Enhancement of energy efficiency with green technologies leads to the reduction of energy costs in network systems, so companies can save operational costs. In fact, due to the business benefits, many RAN suppliers are investing in green technologies for the upcoming 6G era, such as zero-energy devices[2] and reconfiguring intelligent surfaces[3].
How is Fujitsu creating green technologies for 6G?
Fujitsu’s 6G advancements will help enable our business partners to realize their sustainability objectives. Power consumption is expected to be reduced, not only by deploying effective products and services, but also by applying optimization technologies for the efficient operation of entire networks. While energy efficiency has already been designed into today’s wireless and optical products, efforts to further improve them will continue in the development of 6G. For 6G architecture, where high bandwidth and low latency are the primary goals, compactness and energy efficiency will also continue to be important concepts.
Fujitsu is committed to developing low power consumption solutions for our customers and society. Below are highlights of our activities and progress to date:
- Autoscaling technologies with AI/ML to further reduce power consumption
- With the 5G RIC & SMO, Fujitsu is developing the capability to completely power down unused cells to reduce power consumption. 5G autoscaling, an optimization technology, will further this by automatically enabling or disabling cloud-based software controlled base stations depending on network traffic load. This technology eliminates the need for standby resources and improves energy efficiency.
- With the 5G RIC & SMO, Fujitsu is developing the capability to completely power down unused cells to reduce power consumption. 5G autoscaling, an optimization technology, will further this by automatically enabling or disabling cloud-based software controlled base stations depending on network traffic load. This technology eliminates the need for standby resources and improves energy efficiency.
- 6G network topology technologies to optimize energy efficiency
- In 6G, wireless networks will be provided by the flexible and dynamic coordination of a large number of base stations and mobile terminals. Dynamically coordinated network topology technologies can maximize energy efficiency by calculating optimal network configurations. Fujitsu applies IAB, mesh network, mobile base stations, and network sharing technology to the network topology technologies.
- In 6G, wireless networks will be provided by the flexible and dynamic coordination of a large number of base stations and mobile terminals. Dynamically coordinated network topology technologies can maximize energy efficiency by calculating optimal network configurations. Fujitsu applies IAB, mesh network, mobile base stations, and network sharing technology to the network topology technologies.
- Optical transmission systems will improve energy efficiency
- Fujitsu is the first company in the world to adopt liquid-cooling in some of our optical transport equipment. Liquid-cooling enables low power consumption and space savings compared to conventional fan-cooling systems. Photonics network monitoring technology using Machine Learning (ML) will also reduce power consumption, because the technology optimizes network configurations to minimize power consumption based on status of each network element, such as its fiber characteristics, equipment performance, and more.
- Fujitsu is the first company in the world to adopt liquid-cooling in some of our optical transport equipment. Liquid-cooling enables low power consumption and space savings compared to conventional fan-cooling systems. Photonics network monitoring technology using Machine Learning (ML) will also reduce power consumption, because the technology optimizes network configurations to minimize power consumption based on status of each network element, such as its fiber characteristics, equipment performance, and more.
- New materials to increase throughput and reduce power/bit
- Fujitsu is currently conducting research on compound semiconductors, such as Gallium Nitride (GaN) and Indium Phosphide (InP). By using these semiconductors, it is possible to deliver high-frequency Radio Units (RUs), with frequencies in the mm Wave and the sub-THz ranges that are higher than 5G, which will enable high-speed, high-capacity transmission in compact, energy efficient networks. These new materials can deliver higher frequencies compared with conventional silicon semiconductors. By increasing throughput per radio, we reduce the overall power per bit. To improve sub-THz ranges, Fujitsu is participating in joint trials[4] with NTT and NTT Docomo of distributed MIMO[5]. Through the development of this technology, stable and resistant communications will be achieved.
- Fujitsu is currently conducting research on compound semiconductors, such as Gallium Nitride (GaN) and Indium Phosphide (InP). By using these semiconductors, it is possible to deliver high-frequency Radio Units (RUs), with frequencies in the mm Wave and the sub-THz ranges that are higher than 5G, which will enable high-speed, high-capacity transmission in compact, energy efficient networks. These new materials can deliver higher frequencies compared with conventional silicon semiconductors. By increasing throughput per radio, we reduce the overall power per bit. To improve sub-THz ranges, Fujitsu is participating in joint trials[4] with NTT and NTT Docomo of distributed MIMO[5]. Through the development of this technology, stable and resistant communications will be achieved.
- Disaggregated computing reduces energy consumption
- Disaggregated computing technology is being promoted as joint research and development project with NTT[6] in order to enable high-speed and highly efficient data processing. In conventional computers, the number of CPUs, GPUs, storage, etc. and the processing volume were limited by hardware. Disaggregated computing enables optimal configuration by dynamic and flexible deployment of required resources (CPUs, GPUs, and storages) without housing limitations. Through the optimization of network configuration, surplus ICT resources on a server can be utilized for another server. Thus, disaggregated computing will realize efficient utilization of ICT resource and lead to the reduction of energy consumption in the whole ICT architecture.
More information on Fujitsu green technologies for 6G
Fujitsu’s network vision on 6G, including the utilization of green technologies, were published as a whitepaper. Learn more about how network architecture is evolving toward 6G and its underlying network technologies.
[1] Japan Science and Technology Agency. (2019) “Impact of Progress of Information Society on Energy Consumption (Vol.1)”
https://www.jst.go.jp/lcs/en/proposals/fy2018-pp-15.html
[2] Zero-energy devices reduce the need for battery recharging. Therefore, it can run on little power.
[3] Reconfiguring intelligent surfaces (RIS) are considered as energy-efficient technology for 6G. RIS can improve the efficiency of radio waves by dynamically switching the direction of radio wave reflection.
[4] Fujitsu, NTT DOCOMO and NTT to start joint trials towards practical applications for 6G
https://www.fujitsu.com/global/about/resources/news/press-releases/2022/0606-01.html
[5] A wireless communication technology where multiple antennas are dispersed to simultaneously and omit radio waves from multiple directions to a receiving terminal
[6] NTT and Fujitsu Embark on Strategic Alliance to Drive “Realization of Sustainable Digital Society”
https://www.fujitsu.com/global/about/resources/news/press-releases/2021/0426-01.html