Ericsson Proposes New Energy Measurement Standards

Up to half of a carrier’s costs come from energy consumption. So finding new ways to measure and reduce that consumption – and, dare we say it yet again, go green – are always welcome, right? So hopes Ericsson (ERIC).

The company’s Redback Networks Inc. division has come up with two new suggestions for measuring usage: Watts per subscriber, at the edge of the IP network, and Watts per circuit in the metro network.

“This is about realignment of industry metrics – energy isn’t going to magically not become a problem,” said Jeff Baher, senior director of product marketing for Ericsson.

Ericsson hasn’t gauged much service provider reaction yet, Baher said, but the company is talking with the respected Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solution (ATIS) about its proposed measurement changes. Carriers work closely with ATIS, which means results reporting such as that devised by Ericsson could take root within the telecom community soon.

“We think it will be well-received because it’s in the framework where they’ve already been having the dialogue,” Baher said.