The current broadcasting of mobile phone signals in all directions leads to energy wastage through absorption, reflection, and scattering. The scientists propose that reducing the distance of wireless transmissions is crucial, as it would allow for smaller and more energy-efficient cell towers.
The scientists utilized publicly available software to simulate the transmission of signals from base stations to mobile phones. They conducted tests on different network setups using 3D models of actual cities obtained from OpenStreetMap. Their objective was to ensure strong network coverage while minimizing energy consumption.
According to a report by New Scientist, Agrim Gupta and his team from the University of California have discussed the idea of increasing the number of masts during the 4G era. However, they found that the technology back then couldn’t handle the smooth and quick transition of a user’s phone from one tower to another, especially in a denser network.
Gupta explains that this issue has been resolved with the introduction of 5G technology, stating that it enables the rapid expansion of base stations, leading to improved energy efficiency.
Gupta emphasizes that implementing these changes yields notable improvements and efficiencies. He suggests that by adopting such measures, the battery life of mobile phones could potentially be extended by up to 50 percent. In simpler terms, if your phone’s battery used to last for 12 hours, it may now last for 18 hours due to the enhancements in the network infrastructure.
The optimal situation arises when base stations are, on average, positioned five times closer to mobile phones compared to the today’s setup. Achieving this would necessitate the construction of thousands of additional towers throughout the UK.
Gupta acknowledges that the bureaucratic process of identifying and obtaining approval for new tower locations remains a challenge, as does the associated cost. Nevertheless, he highlights that the reduction in energy consumption would result in savings that could potentially cover, or at least balance out, the additional expenses.
The study also found that densifying the network would enable significant reduction in the size of base stations, potentially as short as 15 meters. This is because the need for base stations to be tall enough to allow signals to pass over obstacles would no longer be necessary. As a result, construction costs and complexity would be reduced.
