5G base station power supply architecture

What is a 5G power supply?

The equipment ensures that devices across the infrastructure stack receive reliable power from the mains network, wherever they happen to reside. With it, individuals and organizations can continue to render services to both themselves and their customers. Overviews The 5G network architecture uses multiple types of power supplies.

What are 5G infrastructure power supply considerations?

While the overall power draw is often lower, 5G equipment has narrower tolerances. It often needs multiple, precise voltages to operate correctly, with scarce leeway on either side. In the following section, we discuss 5G infrastructure power supply considerations in more detail. 5G delivers coverage to an area in a different way from 4G.

What is a 5G backhaul power supply?

The backhaul part of the 5G network connects the access interface - including masts, eNodeB, and cell site gateway - to the mobile core and internet beyond. And just like the access equipment, it too has specific power supply requirements. Backhaul power supplies must cater to aggregation routers and core routers.

How does a 5G base station reduce OPEX?

This technique reduces opex by putting a base station into a “sleep mode,” with only the essentials remaining powered on. Pulse power leverages 5G base stations’ ability to analyze traffic loads. In 4G, radios are always on, even when traffic levels don’t warrant it, such as transmitting reference signals to detect users in the middle of the night.

What is the access side of the 5G stack?

The access side of the 5G stack includes user equipment such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktop devices. Devices in this part of the stack require power supply equipment that can operate at room temperatures indoors and protect sensitive electronics - already a well-developed area.

Do 5G equipment power supply units need to be compact?

Small cells will need to be able to fit in compact environments, such as traffic lights, utility poles, and rooftops. So power supply units will need to be compact, able to fit comfortably alongside the equipment they power. There are also considerable heat dissipation issues that 5G equipment power supply units will need to accommodate.