Question: In a 5G network, which of the following is a typical energy-saving strategy for mobile operators to lower OPEX, especially in scenarios with low traffic demand?
Option 1: Switching off capacity boosters (e.g., small cells with massive MIMO) when not needed and reactivating on demand.
Option 2: Permanently reducing the transmission power of all gNBs to a uniformly low level across the network.
Option 3: Upgrading all LTE networks to NR without optimizing energy consumption in the process.
Option 4: Continuously operating all UPFs at the edge of the 5GC network regardless of traffic fluctuations.
Explanation: This option is correct because switching off capacity boosters (such as small cells with massive MIMO) during periods of low traffic demand and reactivating them as needed is a targeted approach to reduce power consumption without compromising network capacity during peak hours. This strategy aligns with the energy-saving use cases outlined for 5G networks, particularly in scenarios where reducing Operational Expenditure (OPEX) through lower power consumption is a key objective. The other options either do not effectively address the energy-saving goal or could potentially degrade network performance.