Ericsson AI tech reduces Vodafone energy by up to a third in London trial sites

Vodafone UK and Ericsson claim 5G AI technology abd machine learning has reduced power consumption by up to a third at some London cell sites.

The two companies tested Ericsson’s latest artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to reduce energy without sacrificing performance.

The trial introduced three key innovations:

5G Deep Sleep – Smart algorithms put radio units into an ultra-low power state during quiet hours, cutting energy use by up to 70 per cent

4G Sleep Mode The network learns when certain areas need less power and automatically dials back, waking up again when demand spikes.

Energy Heatmap – A real-time map pinpoints areas of wasted energy, allowing engineers to fine-tune performance.

Ericsson has been at the forefront of integrating A into its cellular infrastructure to enhance energy efficiency and reduce carbon emission. Last year it introduced the Site Energy Orchestration, an intelligent bridge between the radio access network and power grids and which optimies energy consumption.

Andrea Donà, Chief Network Officer at Vodafone UK, said: “This proves we can improve energy efficiency without affecting customer experience as we expand 5G across the UK.”

Katherine Ainley, CEO of Ericsson UK & Ireland, said the trial highlights AI in making mobile networks more sustainable. “This is a major milestone in reducing the industry’s carbon footprint.”