With the rise of 5G and other advanced technologies, the demand for efficient energy management systems has become a critical concern for operators managing thousands of network sites.
ICT, a provider of power conversion and energy management solutions, is at the forefront of this challenge, introducing its Energy Manager Series to help telecom operators reduce energy consumption, enhance network efficiency, and lower operational costs, according to Blair Clements, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, ICT.
Founded in 1986, ICT initially focused on supplying AC to DC power for land mobile radio networks used for public safety, including police, fire, and ambulance services. These systems are also crucial for communication in industries like forestry, mining, and oil and gas, where reliable two-way radio communication between employees is essential for their business operations.
About 12 years ago, ICT identified an opportunity in the fixed wireless broadband space, driven by an increasing need for high-speed internet in underserved remote communities. Federal and state governments in the U.S. have made significant investments in broadband for these areas, and ICT’s power solutions enable the installation of wireless technologies that bring high-speed internet to places where running fiber would be cost-prohibitive. “The fastest way to get broadband to remote communities is via wireless technologies,” Clements said. “Our equipment is typically located at the bottom of the tower, converting utility power into 48 volts DC to power up radio devices, providing service to those remote communities.”
Intelligent Power Management
Not all power products, even the high-quality ones, incorporate ‘intelligence.’ This is where ICT excels, according to Clements. “The ability to remotely monitor and control power systems, particularly in remote rural areas, is a game changer,” said Clements. “If you have a radio on a tower that’s having an issue, instead of sending someone out, you can reboot the device remotely using our equipment.”
Fewer truck rolls equal financial gains. Clements says ICT customers benefit from reduced operational costs, especially those in rural communities where tower sites are often hours away by vehicle. “With ICT’s solutions, what would typically take hours to resolve can now be accomplished in a matter of minutes, improving both network reliability and cost efficiency.”
Enter, The Energy Manager Series
ICT’s Energy Manager Series was designed to support the higher power requirements of today’s advanced telecom networks. It’s a 2U, intelligent 300-amp dual-feed DC distribution panel for negative 48-volt DC applications, providing remote monitoring and power control of up to 12 individual loads. Each output is protected by a circuit breaker capable of supporting loads of up to 50 amps, ideal for the high-powered devices typically found at 5G radio access network sites. “We’re talking about 5G radios, MIMO antennas, baseband units—these devices consume a lot of power,” Clements said. “Now our customers are able to go in and remotely switch off these high-powered devices if they need to, which can help save on energy consumption.”
That energy consumption, especially associated with 5G networks, has become a challenge for telecom operators. “A typical mobile network operator can have thousands of tower sites,” Clements explains. “Power consumption at each of these sites can range between 15 to 20 kilowatts. That’s a significant amount of energy to run these communication networks.”
ICT’s Energy Manager Series addresses this issue by providing network operators a way to reduce energy use during off-peak times. “At 2 a.m., when network traffic is minimal, you don’t need all your 5G radios running at full capacity,” Clements said. Many radios have standby modes, but they still draw substantial power even when underutilized. With ICT’s solution, operators can remotely turn off radios completely during these low-traffic periods, which translates to significant energy savings, according to Clements.
This is a win-win when it comes to financials and sustainability. “Reducing energy consumption has both operational and environmental impacts,” Clements says. “Whether it’s from an OPEX perspective or a philosophical commitment to reducing their carbon footprint, operators are seeing the value in these energy-saving solutions.”
Energy Efficiency in Telecom
As networks evolve toward 6G and beyond, the power requirements of telecom infrastructure will only increase. “As we look to the future and start utilizing more advanced 5G applications like smart cities, automated driving, IoT, and remote surgeries, all of which require lots of data processing, power requirements are going to grow exponentially. That’s just the way it is,” explained Clements.
ICT’s Energy Manager Series is designed to address these growing demands by providing operators with real-time control over their energy consumption. The panel integrates with network management systems, allowing operators to schedule and automate power-saving actions based on network traffic patterns. This level of control is becoming increasingly essential as operators seek to balance the demands of new technologies with the need for sustainable energy practices.
“ICT’s commitment to innovation and customer-driven product development continues to position us as a leader in the telecom energy management space,” explained Clements. “Our products are designed by listening to customers and determining what unmet business needs exist that no one else is addressing.” Clements said this proven approach has made ICT a preferred provider in the fixed wireless broadband space and a leader in remote DC power management solutions, noting it will continue to stay ahead of the ever-evolving technological curve.
For more information on ICT’s products and solutions, visit https://ict-power.com or email [email protected].
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