Liberty and Ericsson deploy sustainable, energy-efficient and high-performance 5G network in Costa Rica

Liberty Costa Rica and Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) highlight the deployment of their 5G network, based on next-generation radio access network (RAN) equipment that not only delivers high performance but also enables a more efficient and sustainable operation in terms of energy consumption and CO₂ emissions, reinforcing their commitment to responsible connectivity. These results demonstrate that it is possible to achieve high-performing networks that are also efficient and sustainable.

Liberty is deploying its 5G network with the latest Ericsson Radio System portfolio, combining:

• AIR 3255 Massive MIMO radio in 3.5 GHz – an ultra-light, highly sustainable unit that delivers high performance while using about 30% less energy and 20% less embodied CO₂ than previous models.
• Radio 4432 B28 in 700 MHz – optimized for high efficiency and wide coverage, ideal for extending 5G into rural and hard-to-reach areas.
• RAN Processor 6655 – a next-generation baseband with enhanced AI capabilities, higher capacity and energy efficiency, and the ability to consolidate more network functions into less hardware, lowering site-level energy use.

These solutions are powered by Ericsson Silicon SoCs and advanced features such as Massive MIMO, beamforming and dynamic shutdown. Together, they direct radio power only toward active users and automatically adjust energy use in real time, helping to significantly reduce energy waste.

Ericsson’s approach to addressing embodied carbon emissions, those generated across the full value chain, including manufacturing, transport, and installation, underscores the importance of going beyond operational energy use. This is achieved through a life-cycle perspective that focuses on minimizing material use, increasing technological integration, optimizing logistics, and enabling software upgrades that maximize product service life.

This deployment reflects Ericsson’s commitment to supporting its customers in meeting their sustainability targets by developing solutions that are increasingly high performing and energy-efficient.

According to Ericsson’s latest Sustainability Statement, the company reached six months ahead of schedule its target of reducing the average energy consumption of new typical radio base station sites by 40% by the end of 2025 compared with a 2021 baseline. Ericsson is now working toward a new ambition: cutting both the energy consumption and the embodied carbon of new radio base station type sites by 50% by 2027, relative to 2021 levels.

Additionally, the deployment of Liberty Costa Rica’s 5G network supports its climate strategy, which aims for a 30% reduction in scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2027 compared to 2021, and a 39% decrease in the intensity of scope 3 emissions per million colones of added value over the same period.

Wendy Madriz, Liberty’s Communications Manager, notes: “The 5G network we are building for Costa Rica not only offers greater speed and capacity but does so in a more efficient and environmentally responsible way. We are committed to connecting communities and continuing to grow while caring for the environment.”

Sean Cryan, CU Head for LATAM North and the Caribbean at Ericsson, says: “This 5G deployment reminds us that the telecommunications industry has a real and measurable role to play in the transition toward a more sustainable future. What we are achieving together in Costa Rica is exactly the kind of impact we want to replicate throughout the region.”