An Energy Measurement Framework for 5G RAN Using USRP and Real-Time Monitoring

Beyond 5G (B5G) networks, expected to support applications requiring ultra-low latency, high data rates, and dense connectivity, may increase energy consumption, especially in the Radio Access Network (RAN), which accounts for about 75% of total mobile network energy usage. We present an architecture for precise measurement of RAN energy consumption by monitoring the gNB radio interface implemented with Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP) and OpenAirInteraface (OAI). Real-time measurements from the GW Instek GPM-8213 power meter allowed us to analyze energy consumption patterns during various gNB operation phases. Our results show precise measurement and differentiation of energy usage during user transmission, enabling exact operational cost quantification. This architecture enables energy measurements in other mobile scenarios, paving the way for advanced network management use cases and more energy-efficient B5G operations.