Ericsson and Swisscom Roll Out New Energy Platform for Networks

Why It Matters

By digitizing power management, operators can curb rising electricity bills and meet sustainability targets, giving them a competitive edge as network energy use becomes a cost‑center. The platform sets a benchmark for intelligent, green RAN infrastructure worldwide.

Key Takeaways

• Ericsson's Energy & Enclosure platform integrated into Swisscom's RAN
• Platform offers AI‑driven battery management and load‑shifting capabilities
• Expected to cut energy costs and carbon emissions for operators
• Enables remote predictive maintenance, reducing manual site visits
• Supports hybrid solar operation and lithium storage for outage resilience

Pulse Analysis

Telecom operators are grappling with soaring electricity expenses as 5G densification drives up power demand. Traditional radio access network sites rely on static power supplies and manual monitoring, which inflate operational expenditures and limit sustainability initiatives. Ericsson’s new Energy & Enclosure platform, now live on Swisscom’s Swiss network, tackles this challenge by embedding a fully digital power system that can be controlled via software. The collaboration, built over two years, blends Ericsson’s hardware expertise with Swisscom’s field‑level insights, delivering a turnkey solution that modernizes site‑level energy consumption.

At the heart of the platform is an AI‑enabled battery management engine that continuously assesses charge levels, predicts load patterns and optimizes power distribution during grid outages. Coupled with lithium‑ion storage, load‑shifting, peak‑shaving and hybrid solar integration, the system can divert excess renewable generation to the site or store it for later use, effectively reducing reliance on the grid. The Site Controller 6610 aggregates real‑time RAN and power data, enabling remote operators to perform predictive maintenance and adjust energy settings without dispatching technicians. This automation not only cuts labor costs but also shortens downtime, enhancing network reliability.

The broader market implications are significant. As regulators tighten carbon‑reduction mandates and operators face pressure to lower CAPEX and OPEX, intelligent energy platforms become a strategic differentiator. Ericsson’s rollout with Swisscom serves as a proof point that such technology can be scaled across dense urban and rural sites, potentially accelerating adoption across Europe and beyond. By delivering measurable energy savings and a greener footprint, the platform positions telecoms to meet both financial and environmental objectives, reinforcing the industry’s shift toward sustainable, AI‑driven network operations.