How 5G Technology Promotes Energy Conservation

Wake-Up Radio in 3GPP Release 19 As 5G continues to evolve under 3GPP guidance, improving energy efficiency remains a core objective. One of the promising techniques introduced in Release 19 is Wake-Up Radio (WUR). This concept involves a secondary, ultra-low-power receiver that listens for special signals to trigger device activity while the main radio remains off. Interestingly, this is not a new idea. The IEEE 802.11 group introduced a similar concept earlier in its 802.11ba standard, commonly known as Wi-Fi's WUR. In recent years, 3GPP has adopted a number of features originally proposed in Wi-Fi, and WUR is another example of this pattern. Instead of constantly reinventing from scratch, 3GPP often adapts and scales ideas from Wi-Fi to fit the broader and more demanding cellular environment. What is WUR? WUR is a technique that uses a low-power receiver to detect simple wake-up signals. When such a signal is received, the main radio is activated for full communication. This method helps reduce idle mode power usage, extend battery life, and allow the device to stay in deep sleep until actual data transmission is needed. Wake-Up Signal Types in Release 19 3GPP Release 19 introduces several types of Wake-Up Signals (WUS), each tailored to different use cases: -Paging-Based Wake-Up: Wake-up indicators are inserted into the control channel or paging messages, reducing the need for the device to monitor control signals frequently. -Dedicated WUS Transmission: A separate signal is sent using simple modulation like on-off keying. It is easy to detect and energy efficient. -Group-Based WUS: A shared signal can trigger multiple devices in a group. This is useful for dense deployments like factories or smart cities. -Predefined Wake-Up Windows: Devices activate their low-power receivers only during scheduled intervals, aligning with known network activity periods to save energy. Comparison to IEEE 802.11ba Wi-Fi's 802.11ba standard introduced WUR with a focus on IoT and always-on applications. It included a separate low-energy receiver and simple signaling. While the concept is similar, 3GPP has adapted it for cellular use cases that require broader coverage, mobility support, and integration with other 5G features. Benefits The main benefits of WUR include: -Longer battery life for sensors and IoT devices -Lower energy use during idle periods -Scalable connectivity for massive deployments -Support for time-sensitive and low-latency activation Looking ahead, future releases may refine wake-up signal design, integrate AI-based scheduling, and further reduce complexity for device hardware. Takeaway As 3GPP investigates WUR in Release 19, cellular networks are adopting a proven concept from Wi-Fi and enhancing it for 5G. WUR is not just another power-saving trick. It represents a thoughtful evolution in how networks and devices manage energy, balance connectivity, and prepare for a future with billions of connected things. --- to be cont.

Exciting advancements in 5G RAN technology. Dell Technologies recent benchmarking tests at the Open Telecom Ecosystem Lab highlight the significant power efficiency benefits of inline L1 acceleration (using Qualcomm X100 5G RAN Accelerator Card, in this case). By offloading all L1 functions, inline acceleration allows for better CPU core utilization and energy savings, especially in high-density deployments. This innovation not only enhances performance but also supports sustainable and cost-effective network operations. Full white paper is available at https://lnkd.in/gM5vvfmH

Abstract—Enhancing the energy efficiency of devices stands as one of the key requirements in the fifth-generation (5G) cellular network and its evolutions toward the next generation wireless technology. Specifically, for battery-limited Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices where downlink monitoring significantly contributes to energy consumption, efficient solutions are required for power saving while addressing performance tradeoffs. In this regard, the use of a low-power wake-up receiver (WUR) and wake-up signal (WUS) is an attractive solution for reducing the energy consumption of devices without compromising the downlink latency. This paper provides an overview of the standardization study on the design of low-power WUR and WUS within Release 18 of the third-generation partnership project (3GPP). We describe design principles, receiver architectures, waveform characteristics, and device procedures upon detection of WUS. In addition, we provide representative results to show the performance of the WUR in terms of power saving, coverage, and network overhead along with highlighting design tradeoffs. #Wakeup #IoT #5GNR