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Here is a cost savings estimate based on applying an example use case.
Table 2 maps the reference configurations in ETSI TS 102 706-2 [6] to DAU traffic load and the proportion of the day to which they apply. Values are modified TS 102 706-2 baseline with input from operators.
Traffic load | Load | Definition | Hours /day | Percentage of day |
100% | Full | Traffic load at 100% | 2 | 8% |
50% | Busy Hour | Traffic load at 50% | 6 | 25% |
30% | Medium | Traffic load at 30% | 10 | 42% |
0% (idle) | Low | Idle (no traffic) at 1.5% baseline consumption | 6 | 25% |
Smallest elemental calculation | |
Watt of saved power (customizable) | 1 |
Hours per day | 24 |
Percentage of energy saved (customizable) | 100% |
Days per year | 365 |
Energy tariff in $/KWh (customizable) | $0.15 |
$/Wh cost per watt-hour of energy consumption over 5-years | $6.57 |
As Table 3 shows, the operational cost reduction over 5 years at $0.15/Wh is $6.57 per watt saved. The elements of this calculation are universal and can form the empirical basis to calculate costs and cost savings under any tariff regime or traffic load variation. This result can be adapted to any energy tariff whereby the total savings potential can be obtained by multiplying it with a network element’s actual daily watts saved.
To demonstrate the benefit in practical terms, modeling energy savings for the NES Symbol TRx Shutdown and User Packing scenario – combining watts saved by enabling this ESF with the percentage-of-day that the ESF can be active with negligible impact to performance – Table 4 calculates the savings potential:
Power savings vs. traffic load | Savings over 5 years at $0.15/Wh tariff |
Considering 0 watts saved for 100% traffic load for 8.3% of the day | $0.00 |
Considering 67 watts saved for 50% traffic load for 25% of the day | $110 |
Considering 112 watts saved for 30% traffic load for 41.7% of the day | $307 |
Considering 124 watts saved for 10% traffic load for 25% of the day | $203 |
Total cost savings over 5-year period per O-RU | $620 |
In this scenario, an ESF-enabled O-RU yields a potential energy savings of approximately 23%, or $620 over 5 years using a straight line accounting method. Additional savings are possible if the O-DUs or O-RUs implement the full suite of ESFs in Table 1 and Figure 1.