Three UK Reduces Energy Use with Ericsson’s AI-Powered Tech

Three UK has made its network more sustainable by deploying Ericsson’s next-generation AI-powered software and hardware solutions.

Three UK has collaborated with the Swedish telecoms giant for the past 18 months on a network upgrading program targeted at improving energy performance.

The initiatives bring together Ericsson’s industry-leading environmentally friendly radios with advanced AI and data analytics.

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“Three UK’s cooperation with Ericsson represents a significant milestone in our commitment to sustainability. “We’ve made significant improvements in energy usage while expanding network capabilities for our customers,” said Iain Milligan, Chief Network Officer of Three UK.

“We plan to take the lessons learned on board for future projects, assuring that we strive to improve the environmental impact of our network.”

Late last year, Three UK became one of the first main UK operators to use Ericsson’s dual-band Radio 4490.

The next-generation radio unit uses less power and is 25 percent smaller than prior versions, making site access easier and updates faster.

“Together with Three UK, we are establishing the network of the future, making it both more advanced and energy efficient,” stated Evangelia Tzifa, CTO of Networks & Managed Services at Ericsson UK and Ireland.

“To improve network availability and performance while lowering network energy usage shows the technology and experience of our two excellent teams. I am happy to know that we are working together to create a contemporary digital infrastructure that not only provides excellent service for Three consumers, but also contributes to making the future more hopeful and sustainable.”

In addition to installing more energy-efficient radios, Three UK has adopted a number of Ericsson software features that reduce power consumption per radio unit during times of low traffic.

The new radio generation works independently across 4G and 5G networks, switching off parts when idle while keeping the potential to revive in microseconds for the next service request.

So far, the Three-Ericsson relationship has resulted in network energy efficiency savings of up to 70% at chosen sites. These benefits made while boosting overall network performance, reducing site footprints, and decreasing CO2 emissions.

These achievements serve as a baseline for future initiatives, ensuring that the network infrastructure’s environmental effect continues to improve.