The energy-efficiency of Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications can be improved by applying cooperation at the medium access control (MAC) layer. This means that machines can help each other to establish an energy-efficient communication thus extending the lifespan of networks. However, this cooperation requires some kind of coordination. The Persistent Relay Carrier Sensing Multiple Access (PRCSMA) protocol has been presented in the literature as an 802.11-based MAC protocol to coordinate the operation of these cooperative machines in the context of a Cooperative ARQ scheme. In this paper, we present the evaluation of the energy consumption of PRCSMA in the context of M2M capillary networks. Results are compared to non-cooperative ARQ schemes and to C-ARQ with perfect scheduling among the relays, indicating the operational regions where C-ARQ can help improve the energy-efficiency of M2M communications in the capillary segment.

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