How Ericsson is fostering innovation and sustainable thinking in antenna engineering

In Rosenheim, Germany, our Ericsson team works where others come to enjoy nature. The backdrop of rolling green forests sitting comfortably underneath a breathtaking mountainous landscape act as inspiration to the team fostering innovation and sustainable thinking in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

With the significant rise in connectivity demand, responsible resource management and environmental action are more urgent than ever. Mobile network operators are key to keeping the world connected, but their operations often come with high energy costs and a sizable environmental footprint.

Natural environments like Rosenheim inspire our research and design, leading to the development of next-generation, high-performing, sustainable antennas. For instance, Antennas with a lower wind resistance reduce tower material, site maintenance, and reduce overall energy consumption, costs, and emissions.  Our packaging is 99,6% plastic  free and entirely recyclable, an industry first. 

Growing global demand for sustainable products and services

Sustainability has a clear economic value for the telecom industry. For example, by decreasing energy consumption in networks we help keep operating expenses down and reduce emissions despite the rising traffic. ​

The demand for operators to adapt their sustainability strategy has led to an increase in the number of Net Zero goal declarations.  According to the latest GSMA report, 70 operators worldwide have committed to the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), representing nearly half of global mobile connections. Additionally, 53 operators have committed to net-zero targets Mobile Net Zero Report 2024 | GSMA.

At Ericsson, we are also committed to achieving Net Zero by 2040 in line with SBTi methodology, with an interim target of halving our global greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

A collaborative effort for an environmentally sustainable economy

By reducing emissions across our value chain, we help our customers do the same. We focus on minimizing emissions through our facility operations, commuting, sourcing, transport, production, and delivery of products. We also work closely with our vendors to ensure that they align with the 1.5° target and thus we reduce emissions of our supply chain. Our vendor climate action program now includes suppliers responsible for 90% of our upstream emissions.

As we support our customers in reducing emissions, we are simultaneously advancing toward our own Net Zero target. It's like two trains on parallel tracks, eventually merging into one.

Achieving climate goals with passive antennas

Antennas play a key role in sustainable network evolution and network expansion, as well as modernization. A well-executed antenna strategy offers benefits like enhanced performance, energy efficiency, future-proofing, and scalability.

There are two significant benefits to highlight in how Ericsson supports climate goals with passive antennas.

Firstly, antennas help CSPs save radio energy and CO2. Passive antennas are like tires on a car. You can have an impressive car with a massive engine, but if the car has bad tires, a lot of energy gets wasted. The same applies to antennas. If more of the propagation of the electromagnetic field is going in the desired direction, then the radio power can be reduced by up to 29% according to our benchmark report.

Consequently, the radio unit’s energy consumption is either reduced or more signal output can be  is generated. In providing CSPs with best-in-class antennas, we are helping to reduce potentially wasted energy.

Even the handset devices being used in that network can run on less energy meaning they run longer, and users may charge them less frequently.

Secondly, our antennas have a reduced embodied carbon. This means reducing the operators’ overall calculated emissions. Earlier this year we accomplished up to 49 percent of embodied carbon reduction with our newly launched antenna platform compared to its predecessor thanks to a lighter structure and a 100% recyclable radome.

2016–2024: Ericsson Antenna System products’ sustainability evolution

Sustainability as a design principle for all antenna products

At Ericsson we are aware that only a systematic approach and introduction of changes across the whole design of products and value chain will make a significant difference in terms of sustainability.

Our revolutionary honeycomb structure antennas may look similar to their predecessors but from design based on virtualization, through optimized production to delivery and disposal, they redefine the standards of performance, efficiency and sustainability in the telecommunications industry.

We have redesigned our antenna construction, delivering a more self-supporting antenna base with a radome that is much lighter and compact, 100 percent recyclable and still resistant to all environmental conditions. This new construction brings environmental benefits in production and transport, and we’ve applied the same approach to all internal parts of the platform.

Even our packaging has been optimized, using 99.6% fiber-based recyclable cardboard and reconfigured wooden pallets that use less material than the market standard.

Every small change contributes to our environmental goals and helps our customers on their climate action journey.

Engaged with customers for a circular economy

Many CSPs have set ambitious targets focusing on a circular economy, including buyback or exchange programs for mobile devices. On a larger scale, our antennas, cables, and radios follow the same principle. We maximize the use of recycled materials in our products and offer a free, certified Product Take Back Program, ensuring that products are recycled or disposed of securely, both in terms of materials and data.

When considering your next antenna system investment, beyond technical specifications, product quality and price consider the environmental merits. Together, we can increase the performance, capacity, and coverage of your 5G network while minimizing its environmental footprint.

By collaborating and utilizing Ericsson Antenna System’s  energy-efficient, sustainable antennas, we can help decarbonize the entire ICT industry and move the world towards a more sustainable global economy.

The author on a weekend hike, 20 km from Ericsson Antenna System R&D center

Learn more

• Find out how we’re empowering sustainable and energy-efficient networks through antenna innovation
• Learn more about Ericsson Antenna System’s performance enhancement, sustainability focus and Total Cost of Ownership savings
• Discover five benefits of antenna evolution helping to shape the future of networks
• Learn how we’re creating value through circularity