Description
Energy Efficiency (EE) in 3GPP is a comprehensive framework encompassing methodologies, metrics, and requirements designed to evaluate and enhance the energy performance of mobile networks. It operates across multiple domains, including the Radio Access Network (RAN), core network, and end-user devices. The framework establishes standardized energy efficiency metrics (EEMs) and evaluation methodologies (EEMeth) that allow for consistent measurement and comparison of energy consumption under defined traffic load and deployment scenarios. These metrics are crucial for operators to benchmark performance, identify inefficiencies, and validate the energy-saving claims of equipment vendors.
The architecture of EE considerations is integrated into network planning, deployment, and operation. Key technical components include energy consumption models for network elements (e.g., base stations, core network functions), sleep mode strategies for radio equipment during low-traffic periods, and network energy optimization techniques. Specifications detail how to measure energy consumption for base station sites (including radio, processing, and cooling) and define network-level energy efficiency as the ratio of total data traffic carried to the total energy consumed by the network. The framework also covers the energy efficiency of User Equipment (UE), setting requirements for power consumption during various operational states.
EE's role extends into network management through the definition of Energy Saving Management (ESM) functions. These are part of the broader Network Management System (NMS) and Element Management System (EMS), enabling the activation and deactivation of energy-saving features based on policy and network conditions. The specifications provide detailed procedures for energy saving at the cell, sector, and carrier levels, often involving the dynamic shutdown of hardware components or entire carriers when capacity demand is low. This requires careful coordination to maintain service quality and coverage, making EE a critical aspect of modern Self-Organizing Network (SON) and automated network management operations.
Purpose & Motivation
The creation of the 3GPP Energy Efficiency framework was motivated by the rapidly increasing energy consumption and operational expenditure (OPEX) of mobile networks, driven by surging data traffic and network densification. Prior to its standardization, energy-saving techniques were vendor-proprietary, making it difficult for operators to compare solutions or measure holistic network performance. There was no common baseline for defining or reporting energy efficiency, hindering industry-wide progress toward sustainability goals. The framework was established to provide a standardized, transparent, and measurable approach to reducing the carbon footprint and electricity costs of cellular networks.
Historically, network design prioritized performance, capacity, and coverage, with energy consumption often treated as a secondary constraint. As environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns gained prominence and energy prices became more volatile, the industry recognized the need for a coordinated effort. The EE work item, introduced in Release 13, aimed to address this by developing technical specifications that enable energy-efficient network deployment and operation. It solves the problem of inconsistent measurement by defining clear key performance indicators (KPIs) and test methodologies, allowing for fair assessment and fostering innovation in energy-saving technologies across the ecosystem.
Classification
Detected Changes Across Releases
from 3GPP Change RequestsSpecific changes extracted from the „Change history“ tables of 3GPP specifications (56 CRs across 5 releases). Complements the general historical overview above with the evidence-based evolution of this function.
Studied in Rel-13, normative work from Rel-15.
In Release 15, the key new introduction for Energy Efficiency (EE) was the foundational definition of power, energy, and environment related measurements and their associated use cases. This established the framework for measuring Energy Consumption (EC) and Energy Efficiency at both the RAN and system-wide levels across different deployment environments. These measurements aimed to provide a holistic view of network energy efficiency to support energy saving control and optimization operations.
- Introduction of power, energy and environment related measurements and related use case description. TS 32.405CR0079
- Introduction of power, energy and environment related measurements and related use case description. TS 32.425CR0168
- Introduction of power, energy and environment related measurements and related use case description. TS 52.402CR0009
In Release 16, key enhancements for Energy Efficiency (EE) included the formal addition of a 5G Energy Efficiency KPI for system-wide measurement, alongside updates to the supporting measurements. The release also refined the general descriptions for centralized and distributed energy saving activation and deactivation procedures, while removing the distributed scenario from the inter-RAT energy saving use case to clarify the architecture. Furthermore, it addressed requirements traceability for energy saving use cases to ensure comprehensive functional coverage.
- Add 5G Energy Efficiency KPI TS 28.554CR0032
- Add missing requirements traceability for energy saving use cases TS 28.310CR0002
- Correction on general descriptions of centralized energy saving activation and deactivation TS 28.310CR0003
- Correction on general descriptions of distributed energy saving activation and deactivation TS 28.310CR0005
- Remove the distributed scenario from the inter-RAT energy saving use case TS 28.310CR0007
- Update measurements supporting energy efficiency KPI TS 32.425CR0177
In Release 17, the Energy Efficiency (EE) function introduced new Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) specifically for network slices, including for eMBB and URLLC slices based on RAN measurements. It also expanded energy consumption KPIs to cover 5G Network Functions (NFs), the 5G Core (CN), NG-RAN, and virtualized resources like VNFs and VNFCs. Furthermore, the release added use cases and requirements for energy-saving operations such as switching off User Plane Functions (UPFs) at the network edge during off-peak hours.
- Add introductory text to EE KPIs for network slices TS 28.310CR0008
- Add use case and requirements for switching off UPFs deployed at the edge of the network during off-peak hours to achieve energy savings. TS 28.310CR0010
- Update on energy efficiency of URLLC network slice TS 28.310CR0011
- Update of the EE KPIs Overview TS 28.310CR0016
- Add EE KPI definitions for network slices TS 28.554CR0071
- Update on energy efficiency of URLLC network slice TS 28.554CR0079
+ 12 more changes
In Release 18, the Energy Efficiency (EE) function introduced new Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for air-interface efficiency based on Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) and per-UE efficiency within a cell, while also adding procedures for energy saving compensation and roles involved in EE KPI building. The release expanded EE considerations to include the 5G Core (5GC) and User Plane Functions (UPFs), and introduced an intent-driven approach for RAN energy saving. Furthermore, it refined existing KPI definitions, such as those for URLLC and eMBB, and updated methodologies for estimating Virtualized Network Function (VNF) energy consumption.
- Add Energy Saving compensation procedure TS 28.310CR0022
- Introduce clause on roles involved in EE KPI building TS 28.310CR0034
- Rel-18 CR TS 28.310 Add reference to TS 28.312 for intent driven approach for RAN energy saving use case TS 28.310CR0038
- Describe example scenarios involving multiple roles in EE KPI building TS 28.310CR0040
- Add KPI on average air-interface efficiency achievable per UE within the observed NRCellDU TS 28.554CR0105
- Adding additional virtual resources usage to estimate VNF energy consumption TS 28.554CR0132
+ 9 more changes
In Release 19, the Energy Efficiency (EE) function introduced a multi-dimensional framework for evaluating energy efficiency, adding new KPIs assessed from network availability and quality performance dimensions. It expanded the scope to include multi-carrier RAN energy saving optimization and formalized the concept of "Energy Efficiency as a Service" with corresponding criteria and terminology. Furthermore, the release enhanced the management architecture by adding use cases, requirements, and detailed information model definitions for energy-related information.
- Rel-19 CR TS 28.310 Update EE KPIs overview TS 28.310CR0064
- Rel-19 CR TS 28.310 Multi-carrier RAN energy saving optimization TS 28.310CR0071
- Rel-19 CR TS 28.310 Add use case and requirements for energy related information TS 28.310CR0077
- Rel-19 CR TS 28.310 Add information model definitions for energy information TS 28.310CR0082
- Rel-19 CR TS 28.310 Update EE KPIs overview TS 28.310CR0087
- Rel-19 CR TS 28.310 Update UC and requirements of Energy Efficiency as a Service Criteria TS 28.310CR0090
+ 8 more changes
Explore further
Broader topics and technologies where EE plays a role.
Defining Specifications
3GPP specifications that define or reference EE, with the latest known release. Sourced from the 3GPP document catalog — see methodology.
| Specification | Title | Release |
|---|---|---|
| TR 21.866 vf00 | Study on Energy Efficiency in 3GPP Standards | Rel-15 |
| TR 22.882 vj30 | Study on Energy Efficiency as a Service Criteria | Rel-19 |
| TS 23.700 vk00 | XR Services Application Enablement Layer | Rel-20 |
| TS 28.310 vj20 | Energy Efficiency Management for 5G Networks | Rel-19 |
| TS 28.554 vk00 | 5G Network & Slice KPI Specification | Rel-20 |
| TS 32.405 vj00 | UTRAN Performance Measurements Specification | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.425 vj00 | E-UTRAN Performance Measurements | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.450 vj00 | E-UTRAN Key Performance Indicators (KPI) Definitions | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.451 vj00 | KPI Requirements for E-UTRAN | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.856 vf00 | Energy Efficiency Assessment for RAN OAM | Rel-15 |
| TR 32.972 vj00 | Energy Efficiency Study for 5G Networks | Rel-19 |
| TR 33.876 vi01 | Technical Report on Certificate Management | Rel-18 |
| TR 38.864 vi10 | Technical Report on Network Energy Savings for NR | Rel-18 |
| TR 38.913 vj00 | Next Gen Access Tech Scenarios & Requirements | Rel-19 |
| TS 52.402 vj00 | GSM Performance Management Measurements | Rel-19 |