Ericsson and etisalat by e& (formerly known as Etisalat Group) have teamed up on a major expansion project to improve network energy efficiency through deploying the latest Ericsson Radio System portfolio across the service provider’s network. The two-year project is consistent with the e&’s sustainability strategy, which was introduced in July 2022.

Compared to previously deployed radios, Ericsson’s dual-band Radio 6626 showed much lower energy usage during the initial deployment phase, down to 52%. For the sites equipped with four LTE carriers, the decrease in energy consumption equates to a reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of 7.6 tonnes per site annually.

Ericsson’s 5G mid-band radios for 5G network expansion have led to a 20% improvement in energy efficiency compared to the previous radio generation.

The expansion will help etisalat by e& evolve its radio access network (RAN) and support efforts to break the energy curve, which is key to reducing its carbon footprint across the region.

“We are focused on minimizing the environmental impact of our network by pursuing environmentally sustainable solutions that elevate performance quality. The energy consumption reduction witnessed by deploying the enhanced Ericsson Radio System is part of our strategy to build a more sustainable infrastructure across the country,” says Khalid Murshed, chief technology and information officer (CTIO) at Etisalat UAE.

Through this partnership, etisalat by e& will be able to transform from a traditional telecom operator to a provider of integrated digital solutions.

“Our proven and tested innovative radios will enable etisalat by e& offer optimal network performance to end users as they evolve their infrastructure to be more sustainable. Moreover, the energy reduction in our radios will aid etisalat by e& in significantly cutting down operational expenditure and contribute to our net zero targets,” says Ekow Nelson, vice president and head of global customer unit e& at Ericsson Middle East and Africa.