Compared to other industries, the telecom industry has relatively low CO2 emissions. Ericsson’s estimates show that the telecom industry in 2006 was responsible for 0.4 percent of global primary energy consumption and 0.3 percent of CO2-equivalent emissions. Mobile telecom’s CO2-equivalent was 0.09 percent, assuming 2.6 million subscribers.

Our life-cycle assessment (LCA) of Ericsson GSM and 3G (WCDMA) mobile networks show that 52 and 54 percent of CO2 emissions respectively occur when the networks are in operation. This is compared to 3 percent of the direct CO2 that are emitted from Ericsson operations. This places the use phase in sharp focus.

Ericsson has defined aggressive targets to cut energy consumption. For our 3G radio base station portfolio, the target is an 80 percent total energy efficiency improvement between 2001 and 2008. In 2006 we achieved a 35 percent efficiency improvement, exceeding the incremental objective of 25 percent. We address energy efficiency and consumption by optimizing individual products, the total product portfolio, and network design, as well as through use of renewable energies.

Ambitious goals for products have reduced consumption rates considerably. New radio base station products from 2006 onwards with lower energy consumption will save about 2.2 million tons of CO2, over their average ten-year life span. 

There are a number of ways in which Ericsson is reducing energy consumption. Ericsson's main-remote radio base stations cut energy by two-thirds through the elimination of feeder loss which typically occurs between a standard base station on the ground and the antenna. This tower-mounted radio base station also uses natural cooling requiring no fans, and reduces the amount of back-up batteries.

Ericsson Power Modules' DC/DC converters and regulators are components widely used in radio base stations. Efficiency improvements directly impact the need for fans and cooling systems in radio base stations. Modules based on digital power management will reduce energy further. In 2007, based on digital control technology, Ericsson Power Modules will release a 95 percent efficient voltage regulator, unique to the industry. The market standard efficiency ratio is 91 percent.

Micro base stations consuming less power are a viable alternative for areas not requiring wide coverage.

As of 2007, GSM radio base stations will feature standby capability during low load, saving between 10 and 20 percent of energy when the base station is in use, depending on traffic patterns. The feature will operate with all Ericsson radio base stations introduced from 1995. When considering the entire Ericsson installed base, this could save 1 million tons or more of CO2 per year.

Enclosure (shelter) cooling has been optimized to utilize the benefits of the new high-performance radio base station-portfolio, further reducing site energy consumption.