7 Steps to Reduce OPEX for MNOs with vHive

In an increasingly competitive and financially strained telecom landscape, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) are under immense pressure to optimize their operations and sustain profitability. With data traffic projected to grow exponentially—160 exabytes per month globally by 2025, as reported by Ericsson—MNOs face mounting operational complexities. Reducing operational expenditure (OPEX) has become critical to maintaining service quality while enabling investments in next-generation technologies like 5G.

Going digital is emerging as the cornerstone of OPEX optimization, offering transformative solutions that streamline workflows and enhance efficiency across various departments. This article outlines seven actionable OPEX reduction strategies that MNOs can take to reduce operating costs by leveraging digital twins (previously: digitization) through platforms like vHive, which provides advanced, data-driven tools tailored to telecom needs.

Step 1: Automate Site Inspections

The Problem

Manual inspections remain resource-intensive, requiring personnel to perform time-consuming and often risky tower climbs. These processes increase labor costs and delay issue detection, ultimately affecting network performance.

Solution

vHive’s autonomous data capture technology enables automated site inspections, drastically reducing reliance on manual processes. By capturing high-resolution aerial data and generating precise digital twins of field assets, the platform minimizes labor requirements and improves inspection frequency and accuracy.

By utilizing automated inspection technology, Operations and Maintenance (O&M) teams can reduce inspection costs while enhancing safety and efficiency. Automated workflows also enable a shift from reactive maintenance to a predictive model, improving network uptime and reducing emergency repairs.

Step 2: Digitize Post-Construction Validation

The Problem

Manual validation processes following site construction are prone to errors and delays, often leading to costly rework and extended project timelines due to the late discovery of discrepancies between “as planned” and “as built.”

Solution

By going digital with post-construction validation, vHive provides accurate as-built models, ensuring projects align with initial plans. This allows Construction Management and Quality Assurance (QA) teams to identify discrepancies early, reducing rework and associated expenses. Digital workflows enhance oversight, improve project timelines, and prevent costly construction errors.

Step 3: Ensure Billing Accuracy for Shared Infrastructure

The Problem

Billing disputes over shared infrastructure often arise due to unreliable or incomplete data or inaccurate equipment inventories, leading to financial losses and strained relationships with partners.

Solution

Digital twins provide a single source of truth, eliminating ambiguity and ensuring accurate and reliable data for billing processes. vHive offers full inventory information reflecting the actual installed equipment on the tower or rooftop and its compound, along with precise RAD envelope dimensions. Additional features include EPA, FPA, and Wind Load calculations to ensure compliance and consistency.

These tools help prevent discrepancies for TowerCo and MNO transactions, enabling Finance teams to know exactly what they are required to pay for site leases. Finance teams, supported by Regulatory Affairs, can rely on this accurate site data from vHive to resolve billing disputes efficiently.

Step 4: Optimize RAN Performance with Data Insights

The Problem

Inefficient network optimization caused by poor site-level data increases downtime and operational inefficiencies.

Solution

According to Ericsson, implementing RAN optimization strategies can improve coverage reliability by 15-25%, in addition to increasing data throughput and reducing latency. These measurable improvements highlight the value of precise analytics in maintaining superior network performance. 

vHive provides actionable analytics, allowing RAN engineers and Network Operations Centers (NOCs) to optimize network performance and reduce downtime. By leveraging data on sector orientation, inventory per boom, misalignment detection, and RF Data Sheet comparisons, RAN teams can implement predictive network optimization strategies, improving both performance and operational efficiency.

Step 5: Streamline Change and Construction Management

The Problem

Manual workflows for site upgrades or changes often lead to inefficiencies, extended timelines, and higher costs due to miscommunication, lack of accurate site data, and unnecessary site visits.

Solution

vHive’s digital workflows ensure efficient execution of upgrades and modifications by automating repetitive tasks and providing accurate digital representations of sites.

With vHive’s platform, PMO and Engineering teams can:

• Reduce manual errors by accessing up-to-date site models.
• Eliminate unnecessary site visits by remotely validating site conditions.
• Improve coordination among stakeholders with centralized data.
• Shorten project timelines by reducing back-and-forth corrections.

These efficiencies lead to measurable cost savings and more streamlined infrastructure management.

Step 6: Plan Greenfield Sites with Comprehensive Data

The Problem

Insufficient data about greenfield site planning leads to errors, delays, and higher-than-expected costs, often requiring multiple costly site visits to validate feasibility.

Solution

vHive’s digital twin technology allows Site Acquisition and Planning teams to execute accurate and efficient site planning while ensuring compliance with local regulations.

By providing a 360-degree aerial view of potential sites, vHive enables teams to:

• Assess terrain conditions and obstructions remotely.
• Validate line-of-sight to nearby towers for microwave links.
• Identify existing infrastructure, such as access roads and power sources.

With detailed, data-driven planning, MNOs can avoid costly miscalculations and streamline greenfield deployment.

Step 7: Prevent Overcharges on Infrastructure Projects

The Problem

A lack of oversight in infrastructure projects often results in contractor overcharges, inaccurate invoicing, and costly disputes due to a lack of accurate site data.

Solution

vHive’s remote measurement tools provide verifiable data, ensuring accurate billing and preventing financial discrepancies.

Procurement and Vendor Management teams, along with Finance, can leverage:

• Precise site measurements to validate contractor invoices.
• Digital comparisons of billed vs. actual installed equipment.
• Remote validation of materials used, reducing reliance on on-site verifications.

By using vHive’s automated measurement capabilities, MNOs can avoid overcharges, maintain budget integrity, and ensure transparent financial transactions with contractors.

Conclusion

In a fast-evolving telecom landscape, going digital is no longer optional—it is a necessity for reducing OPEX and staying competitive. By adopting vHive’s digital twin solutions, MNOs can streamline operations, optimize resources, and enhance ROI.

According to a recent benchmark study from Arthur D. Little, “a structured and proactive service management model (from reactive to predictive maintenance) enables operators typically to increase their network availability by up to 30% and reduce the escalation of customer claims by up to 10% for faults related to the network.” The study concludes that going digital and the adoption of new technologies are critical to driving efficiencies.

From automating inspections to preventing billing errors, these seven steps provide a comprehensive roadmap for MNOs aiming to achieve cost-efficiency and operational excellence.

Ready to take the next step toward operational excellence? Contact us today to learn how vHive can help you implement advanced solutions tailored to your needs.