Pioneering Sustainable 5G Rollout for Climate Action and Digital Transformation in Qatar
Vice President and Head of Customer Unit Levant Countries and Global Customer Unit Ooredoo at Ericsson Middle East & Africa
Vice President and Head of Customer Unit Levant Countries and Global Customer Unit Ooredoo at Ericsson Middle East & Africa
Vice President and Head of Customer Unit Levant Countries and Global Customer Unit Ooredoo at Ericsson Middle East & Africa
At the heart of Qatar’s vision for a more sustainable future lies the telecom industry, playing a pivotal role in the country’s accelerated technological journey. Spearheaded by Ericsson in close collaboration with our valued partner, Ooredoo, we are actively contributing to the nation’s digital evolution and sustainability goals. Together, we are enhancing broadband services, improving connectivity, and driving the digital transformation of Qatar, embodying our shared commitment to technological innovation and sustainable practices, and aligning with the broader vision for a balanced and forward-looking future. Qatar's commitment to addressing climate change has been noteworthy.
Qatar recognizes the severe impact of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and believes that sustainability and climate action are critical, thereby formulating a national goal to reduce its GHG emissions by 25 percent by 2030. This target is one of the main objectives and top priorities of Qatar’s National Vision 2030, which focuses on sustainable social and environmental projects and technologies, economic and industry diversification, and developing a mix of energy sources. Qatar established the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change in 2021 to dedicate more efforts and attention to protecting the environment, preserving its resources, and reducing emissions that cause climate change.
The telecom industry in Qatar plays a crucial role in the country's infrastructure, making significant contributions to economic development and technological advancement. Ericsson has been instrumental in providing and expanding this infrastructure. By working closely with our partner Ooredoo, we are championing the nation's digitalization ambitions by deploying cutting-edge technologies, such as 5G networks, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and more, to further enhance telecommunication services in the country.
In line with our vision for a connected sustainable world and aligned with Qatar’s climate action and sustainability goals, we have been consistent in collaborating with Ooredoo on reducing the carbon footprint of its network and investing in innovative solutions for sustainable energy management as part of the 5G rollout in the country.
In addition to increasing 5G capacity, the Ericsson Radio System portfolio is contributing to building an energy-efficient and resilient infrastructure meeting Ooredoo’s sustainability goals. With advanced power and energy saving software features such as Energy Metering, Micro-Sleep Tx, Cell Sleep Mode, Low Energy Scheduler Solution, and MIMO sleep mode, these cutting-edge technologies guarantee the best possible energy savings and performance balance under a variety of traffic scenarios. For example, Micro-Sleep TX reduces energy consumption by switching off certain components (e.g., Power Amplifiers) when no transmission is required in the mobile network. These features have led to a substantial reduction in energy consumption on Ooredoo’s network, ranging from 16 to 40 percent.
In response to a significant challenge where over 400 sites depended on diesel generators running 24 hours a day, particularly in remote locations, Ooredoo Qatar collaborated with Ericsson to find a long-term solution. Aligned with Ooredoo's commitment to reduce its carbon footprint and energy operational expenditure (OPEX), we began exploring viable options via the Ericsson Hybrid Smart Site Solution.
The implementation of the Ericsson Hybrid Smart Site Solution is a significant milestone in our sustainability journey, allowing us to decrease reliance on diesel generators and achieve substantial carbon emissions reduction. During the trial, the results showed a 63 to 66 percent reduction in diesel generator runtime and a 55 percent reduction in fuel consumption, resulting in a carbon emission reduction of about three tons per month per site.
In summary, the collaborative efforts between Ericsson and Ooredoo in advancing Qatar's telecom industry and digital evolution reflect a commitment to sustainability and technological innovation under the framework of Qatar's National Vision 2030. From reducing carbon footprint through cutting-edge technologies and the Ericsson Hybrid Smart Site Solution to addressing challenges like diesel generator reliance, the partnership exemplifies a significant leap towards a more sustainable and connected future. The successful implementation of these initiatives not only enhances telecommunication services but also contributes substantially to Qatar's climate action and sustainability goals, showcasing a dedication to building resilient and eco-friendly networks that align with a balanced and forward-looking vision for the State of Qatar.
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