Ericsson showcases AI-powered telecom networks that cut energy use by 33% at MWC 2025

Ericsson‘s Mobile World Congress 2025 showcase demonstrates the rapid acceleration of AI integration within telecommunications networks, revealing how major carriers are leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance efficiency, reduce energy consumption, and deploy more flexible network architectures. These developments signal a fundamental shift in how telecom infrastructure is being reimagined, with particular emphasis on sustainability and autonomous network management.

The big picture: Ericsson unveiled 22 major technological innovations and partnerships at MWC 2025, spanning advancements in 5G, AI, network APIs, and cloud technologies that are reshaping the telecommunications landscape.

Key details: Vodafone UK’s AI energy efficiency trial with Ericsson produced remarkable results, reducing 5G Radio Unit power consumption by up to 33% through AI-powered solutions.

• The trial implemented innovative techniques including 5G Deep Sleep and Cell Sleep Mode orchestration to achieve these energy savings.
• This deployment represents one of the most successful real-world applications of AI for network energy optimization.

Industry partnerships: SoftBank and Ericsson have expanded their research collaboration on AI-driven Radio Access Network (AI-RAN) technology.

• The partnership leverages Nvidia‘s GH200 Grace Hopper Superchip to enhance RAN function offloading and AI orchestration.
• This represents a significant convergence of telecommunications expertise and cutting-edge AI hardware capabilities.

Technological firsts: O2 Telefonica has deployed the world’s first commercial Cloud RAN in a 5G standalone network across eight mobile sites in the Offenbach area.

• This pioneering implementation enables more flexible network architectures and accelerates software updates.
• Cloud RAN represents a fundamental shift from traditional hardware-constrained networks to software-defined infrastructure.

Autonomous networks: Telenor and Ericsson have developed an Agentic AI system specifically for RAN optimization that could reduce energy usage by 4% for radio units.

• The system focuses on autonomous network management, potentially removing the need for human intervention in routine optimization tasks.
• This represents an early implementation of self-managing network infrastructure with significant sustainability benefits.

Connectivity breakthroughs: Ericsson, Qualcomm, and Thales Alenia Space successfully demonstrated a 5G non-terrestrial network (NTN) call, enabling mobile coverage in previously unreachable remote areas.

• This technology could bring connectivity to oceans, forests, and other isolated regions previously outside traditional network coverage.
• The development represents a significant step toward truly global 5G connectivity regardless of terrestrial infrastructure limitations.