TIM Brasil tests ZTE's solution that saves up to 35% energy

The technology, which recently won "Most Innovative RAN Product or Solution" at the 2024 Leading Lights Awards, dramatically reduces the amount of radio units needed on cell towers while maintaining the same network coverage. ZTE’s solution can reduce up to 57% of space on the tower and 35% of power consumption.

 "This solution promises to fit well in the dimension of sustainability, lowering consumption and improving productivity and efficiency. With 5-band UBR solution we can reduce up to 57% of space on the tower and 35% of energy consumption”, said Marco Di Costanzo, CTO at TIM Brasil, speaking at the ZTE 5G Summit and User Congress in Istanbul last week.

The technology works by integrating multiple pieces of equipment into a single box. ZTE can provide industry unique 5-band UBR with customized spectrum combination, so to dramatically reduce the number of modules needed on cell towers, replacing up to 15 separate units with just 3.

The solution also features the industry's first hibernation technology, which can reduce power consumption to as low as 3W during periods of low traffic, combined with two-layer AI solutions that optimize energy usage. This simplification cuts both tower rental costs by over 60% and energy use by more than 30%, according to ZTE.

"We started by providing coverage in the major areas and big cities, and now we are leading Brazil's 5G landscape. We are number one in terms of sites and cities covered. We have already covered more than 500 cities with 5G, some of them with 100% coverage", Di Costanzo said.

However, despite this leadership position, TIM still faces significant challenges in expanding its network further.

"Brazil is a vast country - it's more like a continent than a country, so we cope with challenges covering such a large territory within a low-income environment," Di Costanzo explained. "We need to balance growth - that is, network development - with sustainability and profitability."

The UBR solution can help us to addresses these challenges, Di Costanzo said.

The new design makes sites easier to maintain and faster to install — important benefits in a country where technical teams must cover large territories.

TIM believes that the potential adoption of the UBR solution can leverage the expansion of 5G in underserved areas. “5G will help to reduce the digital divide”, said Di Costanzo.

ZTE’s new generation UBR series has already gained significant traction, with deployment underway by over 30 mobile operators worldwide. The technology was recognized as a market leader in 2023 by industry analysts Omdia and GlobalData, validating its position at the forefront of radio access network innovation.

“The commercial results demonstrate that the UBR series has successfully addressed the crowded conditions in the existing installation space of towers and poles, and remarkably reduced site power consumption," said Li Xiaotong, vice president of ZTE.

"We want access to products that are easy to buy, deploy, and maintain. That's why we rely on partners who provide us with the right services and products,” Di Costanzo added. “All of this is aimed at maintaining our leadership, not just in coverage and connectivity, but also in providing new services for both individuals and industries".

TIM’s market strength continues to grow, with its mobile customer base reaching 62 million. "Staying competitive is our key mission”, said Di Costanzo.TIM Brasil and ZTE's collaboration dates back to 2012, when they first partnered to implement ultra broadband projects in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The partnership expanded significantly in 2017 when ZTE won the largest share of TIM's GPON project, and by 2020, their joint efforts had helped grow TIM's fixed broadband users. In 2024, the partnership extended to the wireless part to foster network expansion and modernization.