Projects Profile
Project Title
Energy efficient mobile networks by interference management
Partnership
Prof. Laurie Cuthbert, Queen Mary, University of London
Prof. Zhimin Zeng, Beijing University of Post & Telecommunication (BUPT)
Project Aim
The aim of this ICUK application is to produce a demonstrator software tool that will allow mobile phone network operators to plan, and then build, networks that significantly reduce carbon emissions. This tool is based on a combination of patented co-operative smart antenna technology developed at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) and methods on interference management in a distributed multi-antenna system developed at Beijing University of Post and Telecommunications (BUPT).
Inspiration for the projects
Mobile networks create a carbon footprint equivalent to the whole of the global aviation industry. Currently a range of different strategies have been employed to reduce the energy consumption by mobile network, but none of these reduce the energy used in radio transmission, which is fundamentally the source of energy efficiency in the network.
The technology proposed in the project aim to provide a solution to this problem.
Commercial Potential and Further Development
The expected output is a beta version software tool demonstrating the potential of the combined QMUL/BUPT technique. On completion of the project a number of mobile phone network operators will be approached, with a view to forming a collaborative development partnership to beta trial the software as a network planning tool.
This phase will be under contract from the network operator, both developing the software further to match the exact requirement of the operator and providing consultancy on using the tool and advice on how to improve the energy efficiency of networks. When implemented in the network the QMUL/BUPT technology will then be licensed non-exclusively to the network operator on either a per-use or yearly fee basis.
