Energy Efficient TransmissionTechniques for LTE

Abstract

The goal of the European ICT ProjectEARTH is to enhance energy efficiency of cur-rent LTE cellular networks by 50 percent,enabling operators to provide more extensivecoverage, namely to less densely populatedareas, while ensuring high levels of efficiency,hence, reducing the carbon footprint. In order toachieve this objective, different strategies, at dif-ferent levels, are being addressed. Energy effi-cient transmission techniques for LTE, proposedwithin the framework of EARTH, are addressedand discussed, with an emphasis on beamform-ing and MIMO. It is concluded that the strategicobjective of EARTH is achievable. CombinedMIMO mode selection, resource allocation,scheduling and precoding strategies will allow anenergy consumption reduction of more than 50percent in macro-cells. A reduction in MIMOpower consumption of 91.7 percent (factor of12) can be achieved in pico-cells