Montenego’s Crnogorski Telekom has signed a 10-year Energy Infrastructure Management agreement with Ericsson.
The deal is the first Energy Infrastructure Management agreement to be announced since Ericsson unveiled its partnership with Panasonic last year.
Ericsson’s Energy Infrastructure Management is an efficient means of measuring, monitoring and maintaining energy infrastructure for mobile operators and tower companies. It uses big data analytics, energy management software, and lithium-ion batteries for energy storage.
A member of the Deutsche Telekom Group, Crnogorski Telekom currently uses a combination of diesel generators and lead-acid batteries as a source of backup power for its cell sites. Compared to lead-acid batteries, Panasonic’s lithium-ion batteries offer superior energy density, are less vulnerable to damage from excessive discharging and extreme temperatures, and require less maintenance.
Under the terms of the contract, Ericsson will assume responsibility for the design, roll out and management of lithium-ion battery and power infrastructure solutions for the operator’s cell sites. The vendor will provide these services via an Energy Network Operations Center, thereby ensuring the highest levels of energy efficiency and availability. Panasonic will handle the manufacturing, supply, asset ownership, dimensioning, 10-year performance service-level agreements (SLAs), and support for battery and power infrastructure.
Valentina Radulovic, Technology Director from Crnogorski Telekom, said: “This is another sustainable solution which we decided to implement in order to further reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. As the technology leader in the Montenegrin market, we will continue with sustainable innovations that will result in a more efficient, reliable and powerful network for our customers.”
Peter Laurin, Head of Managed Services at Ericsson, says: “We will reduce the cost of energy equipment ownership for targeted Crnogorski Telekom sites by up to 40%. This is primarily a result of Ericsson’s advanced power source selection logic, extended battery life-cycles, and the reduced need for site visits. Our offering is based on an as-a-service business model, which provides Crnogorski Telekom with immediate savings with minimal upfront investment. Energy typically accounts for anything from 10% to 60% of an operator’s operational expenditure.”
The operational benefits include the ability to remotely monitor site infrastructure, which can be particularly useful in a country such as Montenegro that features some of the most rugged terrain in Europe. Ericsson’s Energy Infrastructure Management provides analysis of operating and sensor data, which enables proactive maintenance and reduces the need for unexpected, urgent site visits.
Ericsson’s Energy Infrastructure Management also reduces energy losses associated with the operation of rectifiers and air conditioners at cell sites by optimising capacity and run cycles, thereby further reducing costs. Furthermore, the service helps to lower operators’ energy costs by limiting use of power from the grid to off-peak times.
