Scope
The GFN project within NGMN (see NGMN – We make better connections) had Energy Metering sub-project producing the following relevant whitepapers:
- Green Future Networks – Metering for Sustainable Networks (ngmn.org), published January 2022
- GFN_Metering-Virt.-RAN-Infrastructure_V1.0.pdf (ngmn.org), published March 2024
Summary
The first Metering whitepaper (published in January 2022) focuses on the metering for site locations that might be connected to the power grid, have renewable power source and/or have battery installation. Metering encompasses electrical measurements (voltage, current, energy, power), environmental measurements (temperature, humidity, wind, solar radiation), and other (e.g. fuel level, battery capacity/load/shelter temperature). Focus is also on site container architecture and measurements, including site sharing concepts (passive or active) among different MNOs and interaction between the MNO, tower company and electricity grid distribution company (see also figures below).


The second Metering whitepaper, ‘Green Future Networks: Metering in Virtualised RAN Infrastructure’ (published in March 2024), goes in more depth about the virtualised environment for the RAN and Core part of the mobile network, also relating to the NFV-MAN framework. Industry solutions/tools are listed for virtualised power consumption metering and also recommendations for further standardisation is given.


Relevance for EXIGENCE
The KPIs definitions and methods as well as some architectural recommendations in these two white papers are relevant for requirements and scenarios, architecture, energy metrics, energy measurements, data collection, resource interconnectivity, orchestration and energy optimisation.