Ericsson published a set of new metrics for measuring the energy efficiency of edge networking platforms. The company calculates that its network IP edge and metro platforms deliver the industry's lowest energy consumption based on these metrics.
Ericsson said that with energy usage accounting for up to 50 percent of an operator's operating expenses, energy costs continuing to rise, and IP technology delivering new bandwidth-intensive services to an ever-growing number of fixed and mobile subscribers, service providers need greater insight into how specific platforms use energy and where to find efficiencies without impacting service. 
Unlike previous energy efficiency guidelines for network gear that measured Watts-per-GigE-port, Ericsson's new metrics provide a means to calculate energy usage granularly by subscriber and circuit.
The new metrics are the latest sustainability effort from Ericsson, which in 2008 committed to providing up to a 40 percent reduction in carbon emissions per subscriber across its product portfolio within five years. In addition to the focus on the IP edge and metro Ethernet, Ericsson has reported significant reductions in energy usage for its WCDMA radio base stations (an 80 percent improvement in energy efficiency from 2001 to 2008), for its mobile softswitch solution (60 percent more efficiency per subscriber), and for site power management.
Ericsson commissioned Iometrix to test and verify the results of the SmartEdge Multi Service Edge Router and SM 480 metro Ethernet platform using the new metrics. Iometrix reported both platforms became more efficient the higher the subscriber or circuit load.
For the IP edge, Iometrix tested the power needed to deliver multimedia-enabled subscriber services for varying traffic loads for up to 256,000 subscribers. The SmartEdge delivered 5.16 mWatts per subscriber. That represents a 70 percent to 92 percent power savings per subscriber, Ericsson said. Meanwhile, results for the metro found that the SM 480 delivered 5.375mWatts per circuit per Virtual Leased Line for up to 256,000 subscribers, a power savings of 72 to 77 percent per circuit compared to data from competitors, Ericsson said.
The Iometrix test results are in line with the Telecommunications Energy Efficiency Ratio (TEER) methodology and standards set by ATIS, an industry standards body providing technical and operations standards for information, entertainment and communications technologies. As a member of ATIS, Ericsson has supported the creation of energy efficiency standard measurement methods and metrics. The TEER calculation for the Ericsson SmartEdge for 256,000 subscribers is 196 subscribers per watt (5.0 milliwatts per subscriber). The TEER calculation for the Ericsson SM 480 is 193 circuits per watt (5.2 milliwatts per circuit).
"IP Edge and metro Ethernet networks are measured in large part by subscriber and circuit densities and the efficiency with which services can be created and delivered," said Simon Williams, SVP Strategy, Products, Marketing for Ericsson Packet Networks. "Metrics that build linkages between service creation and energy consumption are inherently more pragmatic in helping carriers optimize their networks for maximum service delivery and efficiency."http://www.ericsson.com
- In 2008, Ericsson set its first Group-level carbon footprint target, aiming for a 40 percent reduction over five years, and starting with a 10 percent reduction in 2009. Initiatives include reducing its own energy-consumption, improving the energy efficiency of both GSM and WCDMA radio base stations as well as other products, and encouraging the use of communications to accelerate the shift from physical to virtual infrastructure and services, contributing to the creation of a low-carbon economy.
Carl-Henric Svanberg says: "During 2008, our technology has been used around the globe to reduce energy consumption and the corresponding CO2 emissions, demonstrating our firm belief that telecommunications is both an essential part of the equation in solving global climate change and critical to the development of more carbon-lean societies.
"At the same time, we have shown that our technology has the power to change lives. We have played a crucial role in bringing telecommunications to the poorest of the poor in sub-Saharan Africa, by harnessing the power of telecommunications as a tool for accessing basic services and information and improving people's lives."
The 44-page report also includes details on the performance of Ericsson's risk-based approach to monitoring compliance with its Supplier Code of Conduct. The Code ensures that suppliers understand and meet Ericsson's requirements for environmental and social standards, and reflects the company's commitment to being an agent of change.
