Multi-Layer Approach to Future Green Mobile Communications

This article addresses design concepts for mobile radio communications particularly addressing the crucial trade-offs between system performance and energy-consumption. System performance depends on various adaptive procedures and parameters adopted at multiple OSI layers of the communication system. However, these procedures and parameters require spectrum and energy resources and contribute to the overall system and network energy-consumption and to the resulting CO₂ emission. This article also therefore presents a vision on green mobile communication technology, and analyses some trade-offs among different methodologies toward energy-efficient system-design. It particularly discusses the degrees of freedom in the design of communications systems and networks using various technologies, and investigates their energy-saving options.