"
5G antennas consume so much energy that the telecoms operator China Unicom puts them on standby at night
."
The simple title of a South China Morning Post article has ignited social media, pitting anti-5G against tech defenders.
And for good reason: if the information is true because 5G antennas are put on standby at night, the reason why they are is not necessarily that announced.
Nicolas Desmassieux, senior vice-president at Orange Labs, gave a long explanation on the subject.
He explains
that
“
a 5G base station consumes more than a 4G base station
”, but that also depends on the installed capacity.
Indeed, the 5G station (commonly referred to by the term antenna) will carry much more traffic than the 4G one.
Eventually, the ratio will even be 30 to 40 times more traffic.
In other words, with equal data consumption, 5G effectively consumes less than 4G.
So why turn off the antennas at night?
Because it is one of the technological specificities of the 5G standard: the antennas are put on standby when they are not in use and are “turned on” when they are.
The best way to save energy is not to consume it.
The race for energy savings
"
The article presents as a problem something which is a normal operation
", adds Nicolas Desmassieux.
Article which further mentions that the data is taken from a report by the Swedish equipment manufacturer Ericsson, which would warn about the overconsumption of 5G.
Again, the shortcut is a bit quick.
The European equipment manufacturer highlighted the need to develop new architectures to optimize the advantages of 5G.
But in the context of the current trade war, it may be fashionable for some to criticize devices from European suppliers.
In addition, Nicolas Desmassieux has split a long blog note on the energy efficiency of 5G networks "by design".
It thus highlights the various technologies, including standby mode, used to reduce the consumption of 5G base stations.
Of course, Orange is a telecoms operator, but they have every interest in choosing technologies that make them consume as little energy as possible.
On the one hand, because they want to reduce operating costs.
On the other hand, because most of the big names in the sector have made strong commitments in terms of environmental impact.
And in particular Orange.