Energy efficiency and standardization bodies (part 3 - ETSI-ITU T)

The increase in energy demand, the growing instability in energy supply and the EU CO2 emmissions reduction commitments have stressed the need for an international strategy on energy efficiency and the diversification of energy sources.

Energy efficiency is, then, a topic which can be found at every international standardisation level (ISO, IEC, CEN, CENELEC, ITU-T, ETSI). This series of short articles provides a brief summary of the main activities currently on going by the various international standardisation bodies relevant to this field of interest.


ETSI

For several years, the telecommunication world has made energy efficiency an internal requirement to optimise consumption and reduce costs, as well as impact for users.

In 2007, ETSI inserted this topic among its strategical fields.

In 2006, study points on power management for xDSL were created by ETSI TM6. Activities are supported by all main European operators.

Also, ETSI EE (Environmental Engineering) started similar activities related to system consumption and aiming to define extended environmental ranges in order to reduce conditioning impact, in particular focusing on new generation network architecture (NGN).

In September 2007, a new version of the document ETSI TS 102 533, “Energy consumption in Broadband Telecommunication Network Equipment” was published. This document, (prepared with reference to CoC BB published by the European Commission) shoots for the definition of consumption thresholds and methodologies and tests for broadband devices consumption measurements.


ITU-T

Starting from 2006, study points on power management for xDSL have been created by ITU-T (in particular Study Group 15).

Activities are supported by AT&T, Belgacom, BT, Deutsche Telekom, France Telecom, KPN, NTT, Swisscom, Telecom Italia, Telenor and TeliaSonera.

A document is currently under development that defines requirements (as defined by operators) for broadband ADSL and VDSL2 devices consumption reduction without creating instability on telecommunication network. This document in particular is focused on the new technical solution called “low power mode,” which allows the reduction of device consumption during limited data transmission flow operating times.