Shannon Retail Park, Dublin Rd, Athlone, Co. Westmeath, N37 E2P6
info@zinkworks.com
Driving Green Innovation in Telecoms: Zinkworks Contribution to TM Forum’s Catalyst Project
In the rapidly evolving world of telecommunications, the shift towards 5G networks presents both opportunities and challenges. One of the most pressing issues is the significant increase in energy consumption associated with 5G infrastructure, particularly within Radio Access Networks (RAN). Addressing this challenge head-on, Zinkworks partnered with other industry leaders in the TM Forum Catalyst project titled “Sustainable 5G: Smart RAN Energy Management” (URN: C25.0.783).
Partners
Snowflake, Sutherland, Tupl, and Zinkworks.The Catalyst Project: An Overview
The “Sustainable 5G: Smart RAN Energy Management” project aims to optimize energy usage in RAN sites through AI-driven dynamic energy management. This innovative approach adjusts power consumption based on real-time traffic and network demand, ensuring that energy is used efficiently without compromising service quality. By reducing energy consumption during off-peak hours and optimizing for peak demand, the project not only lowers operational costs but also minimizes the carbon footprint of telecom operators.
Addressing the Challenge:
The solution integrates predictive AI-driven energy management into the Service Management and Orchestration (SMO) layer.
- It leverages real-time RAN data through standardized O1/O2 interfaces, intelligently forecasting traffic patterns to dynamically reconfigure radio parameters via rApps.
- A dedicated RAN simulator validates energy-saving scenarios to ensure no degradation in QoS.
- The architecture is built on TM Forum and O-RAN Alliance standards, ensuring seamless scalability, interoperability, and vendor neutrality – accelerating sustainable 5G deployment.
Zinkworks Contribution
Zinkworks rises to this challenge with its innovative Power Management Controller rApp, a solution that not only optimizes power usage but also aligns with global carbon reduction goals.
The Proactive Power Management is enabled by chaining two of Zinkworks rApps: Network Traffic Prediction and the Dynamic Carrier Activation & Deactivation. By first forecasting traffic patterns across cell clusters, we can then intelligently control carrier activation, driving both cost efficiency and carbon reduction.
01 Network Traffic Prediction (NTP)
A centralized machine learning graph-based model, aligned with the latest 3GPP and O-RAN standardizations, designed to integrate seamlessly with both non-real-time (non-RT) and near-real-time (near-RT) RAN Intelligent Controllers (RIC). This model enables adaptive prediction through periodic evaluations, offering a holistic approach to network traffic forecasting. It can predict traffic across an entire cellular network cluster while effectively learning and adapting to the non-linear temporal dynamics of evolving network conditions.
02 Dynamic Carrier Activation & Deactivation (DCAD)
This closed-loop system first forecasts traffic patterns across cell clusters, then dynamically adjusts carrier activity based on demand. The result? Smarter energy use, lower costs, and reduced carbon emissions.
By dynamically adjusting carrier usage based on real-time traffic. It deactivates unused carriers during low demand while maintaining network performance, optimizing energy efficiency without affecting service quality. Live deployments of Zinkworks’ solution have demonstrated up to 15% reductions in energy consumption, a significant achievement in an industry where every watt counts.
The Overall Business Impact
The successful implementation of this catalyst project promises significant benefits for the telecommunications industry. By adopting the energy optimization solutions developed in this Catalyst, telecom operators can achieve substantial cost savings and reduce their environmental impact.
This project exemplifies how innovative technologies can drive sustainability in the industry, making it a win-win for both businesses and the planet.
Cut RAN energy use by
0
%
Annually, cut emissions by
0
%
Achieve ROI with AI-driven automation
0
X
Driving the Future of Sustainable Telecoms
Zinkworks’ contribution to the TM Forum Catalyst project is more than just a technical achievement it is a blueprint for a greener, smarter telecom industry. By combining predictive AI with dynamic energy management, we are proving that sustainability and performance can go hand in hand.
But innovation doesn’t happen in isolation. It thrives through collaboration. Join us in shaping the future of sustainable 5G. Whether you are a telecom operator, technology partner, or industry innovator, now is the time to act. Let’s work together to scale these solutions, reduce our collective carbon footprint, and build a more energy-efficient digital world.
Connect with Zinkworks to explore partnership opportunities, learn more about our rApps, or see how our solutions can help your network go green.
