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Powering a Greener Future: Inside Samsung's AI-Driven Network Energy Innovation

Feb 26. 2025
  • Sunghyun Choi, EVP and Head of Advanced R&D, Networks Business at Samsung Electronics

    EVP and Head of Advanced R&D, Networks Business at Samsung Electronics

    Sunghyun Choi

As mobile networks become more complex and data-intensive, the challenge of maintaining optimal performance while minimizing energy consumption becomes increasingly critical. Samsung's AI-powered Energy Saving Manager (AI-ESM), recently tested across Verizon's commercial network, offers a groundbreaking solution to this pressing industry challenge.

 

AI transforms network energy management

 

Samsung's AI-ESM represents a significant leap forward in network energy management, leveraging artificial intelligence to create a self-optimizing network that responds dynamically to real-world conditions. The system has been implemented across Verizon's commercial 5G NR and 4G LTE network featuring Samsung’s virtualized RAN (vRAN), 4G, and 5G C-band and mmWave radios and demonstrating remarkable results in real-world conditions.

 

Innovative technology reshaping network architecture

 

The AI-ESM's sophisticated architecture takes a comprehensive approach to network management. The system actively monitors and manages the specific capabilities of each radio in the network, ensuring that energy-saving measures align with hardware specifications and operational requirements. Additionally, the system minimizes service degradation while implementing energy-saving measures by understanding network elements' spatial and functional relationships. This allows for precise control over network resources while maximizing energy efficiency.\

 

The AI-ESM employs sophisticated AI algorithms to:

 

  • Analyze Traffic Patterns: The system continuously monitors network traffic across different locations and times of day, building detailed usage profiles for each cell site.
  • Identify Site Environments: Each cell site operates under unique conditions. The AI-ESM automatically categorizes and adapts to these varying environments, ensuring optimal performance across diverse settings.
  • Dynamic Threshold Management: Rather than using fixed rules, the AI determines optimal threshold values for each site based on historical data and real-time conditions.
  • Automate Power Management:  Several energy-saving features help reduce power consumption of cell sites by automatically controlling transmission path and RU power amplifier (PA) based on traffic patterns. For instance, when traffic falls below the calculated threshold, the system automatically switches off transmission paths and/or PAs to conserve energy. When data traffic increases to reach the threshold again, they are reactivated seamlessly.

Delivering measurable results

 

The implementation of Samsung's AI-ESM on Verizon's network has delivered impressive results. Field tests demonstrated an energy saving gain of 15% on average, with a maximum of 35% per sector during low traffic periods, all while maintaining the network performance standards that Verizon's customers expect. This achievement is particularly noteworthy because it ensures uninterrupted service quality even during energy-saving operations.

 

Building the foundation for innovation

 

The solution's success builds on Verizon's forward-thinking network architecture. Since 2020, Verizon has expanded its virtualized RAN (vRAN) deployment with Samsung, creating one of the world's largest and most advanced software-based networks. This software-centric approach provides the perfect foundation for AI integration, offering:

 

  • Greater flexibility in network management
  • Holistic data handling capabilities
  • Enhanced ability to implement advanced features
  • Seamless integration of new technologies

Scaling green technology for global impact

 

The environmental implications of this technology are significant. With mobile networks accounting for a substantial portion of global ICT energy consumption, the ability to significantly reduce energy usage represents a meaningful step toward sustainability goals. When implemented across thousands of cell sites, these savings compound to create substantial environmental benefits.

The AI-ESM solution directly supports Verizon's path to operational net zero through two key drivers: maximizing network energy efficiency and facilitating the transition to more sustainable operations. By optimizing power consumption at the cell site level while maintaining service quality, the system demonstrates that environmental responsibility and network performance can work hand in hand.

 

Shaping tomorrow’s networks today

 

This deployment represents more than just an energy-saving solution – it's a blueprint for the future of network management. The combination of Samsung's expertise in software-based networks and Verizon's relentless commitment for network innovation demonstrates how software-defined networking and artificial intelligence can work together to create more efficient, sustainable mobile networks.

 

As networks continue to evolve and expand, solutions like Samsung's AI-ESM will play an increasingly crucial role in balancing the demands of high-performance connectivity with environmental responsibility. This successful implementation proves that networks can be robust and sustainable with the right technology and partnership.

 

For more information, please refer to this announcement: [Link]

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