Energy efficiency in next-generation mobile networks


With the substantial negative implications of climate change looming ever closer, enabling sustainability is of paramount importance for any future technology. Minimizing energy use is one dimension of achieving sustainability, thus every aspect of 6G design, implementation and operation will be scrutinized to maximize energy efficiency. An analysis of the massive MIMO 5G radio energy consumption at different loads reveals under what specific conditions 6G should outperform 5G, setting qualitative energy efficiency design goals for 6G. Following this, we propose some design principles or essential features for the 6G air-interface and network architecture to minimize energy consumption.