AT&T and Ericsson

With a comprehensive modernization approach and advanced network optimization, AT&T set new industry standards for energy-efficient telecommunications. The collaborative initiative includes software features which led to annual savings of $28 million by improving energy efficiency in 2024. This network performance enabled customers to maintain superior service quality while in parallel enable AT&T to annually avoid almost 23,000 metric tons of carbon emissions.

Modern telecommunications networks face unprecedented sustainability challenges:

• Rising energy costs: Energy costs can consume as much as 15-40% of telecommunications operating expenses, a percentage only expected to increase
• Expanding data demands: According to Ericsson's mobility report, North American mobile data traffic more than doubled between 2019 and 2024, requiring capacity expansion with minimal environmental impact
• Infrastructure evolution: Balancing the need for advanced network capabilities with energy efficiency and sustainable resource management
• Emissions reduction: Transitioning to more environmentally responsible operations while maintaining superior network performance

At AT&T's nationwide network, Ericsson has deployed a comprehensive modernization approach, implementing:

Ericsson hardware

• Advanced radio platforms for 20% improved energy efficiency over previous generations
• Dual and tri-band radios for simplified tower configurations and reduced equipment needs
• Massive MIMO radios for optimal handling of 5G traffic growth while maintaining power efficiency
• Cloud RAN for cloud-native architecture enabling better resource allocation

Ericsson software

• Micro Sleep TX for automatic deactivation of idle transmissions during low traffic periods
• AI-powered Radio Applications (rApps) for intelligent optimization of network performance and energy consumption
• Cloud Log Analyzer Tool (CLAT) which addresses inefficiency in equipment testing.

Solution advantages

• Embedded features enable automatic radio sleep modes during low traffic periods
• Digital Twin technology creates virtual replicas of physical infrastructure for precision planning
• Comprehensive bundling system packages all equipment for streamlined deployment
• Local repair centers reduce transportation emissions and improve maintenance efficiency

The transformation of AT&T's network demonstrates clear business impact through measurable efficiency metrics:

Energy and financial efficiency

• Power consumption can improve by 22-25% through modernization from Ericsson single-band radios to dual-band radios.
• 22,963 metric tons reduction in carbon emissions through modernized planning and logistics, including:
• 2,900 metric tons avoided through the Digital Twin solution, eliminating 2 site visits per location^[1]
• 323 metric tons avoided through direct shipping to construction vendors' market warehouses^[1]
• 19,740 metric tons avoided by shifting repairs from Malaysia to North American centers^[1]
• Elimination of almost 2.6 million transportation miles annually through optimized site planning and logistics, equivalent to removing over 5,360 passenger vehicles from the road for a year.^[2]

Future-ready infrastructure

The modernization initiative ensures AT&T can continue scaling network capabilities sustainably, providing both immediate operational savings and long-term environmental benefits.

Technical specifications

• Local CLAT systems for on-site radio diagnostics, reducing unnecessary equipment returns
• Direct shipping routes to vendor warehouses, eliminating intermediate locations
• R2-certified vendors for environmentally responsible e-waste handling
• Digital Twin drone technology for precise infrastructure planning and optimization