Microwave is a key enabler for ubiquitous backhaul networks in 5G
The move toward commercial 5G deployments, complemented by increasingly robust gigabit LTE networks, requires a massive investment in network densification. As mobile service providers augment the macro layer with a blanket of street-level small cells, capex associated with the radio access and core networks must be supported by a 5G transport network capable of providing the fronthaul and backhaul necessary to deliver an enhanced user experience.
When considering 5G transport, it’s important to remember that fiber isn’t the only option; microwave plays an important role in complementing an operator’s fiber footprint. And innovations in microwave products across traditional licensed bands, millimeter wave and beyond mean microwave is 5G-ready.
“There’s definitely a focus on deploying fiber as much as possible but fiber can’t be everywhere,” Andre Devillier, Ericsson North America’s director of business development for transport products, explained in an interview with RCR Wireless News. “It’s just not cost-effective to deploy in every location. Microwave is an effective tool to extend an operator’s fiber footprint.”
To understand how microwave fits into 5G transport, let’s consider some real-world deployment scenarios operators will face as they light up 5G. For example, in a dense, urban environment, millimeter wave small cells will need to be tightly clustered on street lights and rooftops to provide users with a seamless and high-quality network experience as they move through a central business district.
While fiber may be present at many street lights, some may not be connected to leased or owned fiber. In other situations, the fiber might be available but not in the right spot for optimal 5G radio propagation. In those instances, Ericsson has an outdoor mounted, microwave solution that uses the 60 GHz V-band to provide up to 1 Gbps backhaul for short hops between small cell sites. Since 60 GHz is unlicensed in many countries, the link to the small cell site can be quickly and easily deployed. If more capacity is required, then Ericsson also has an outdoor, E-Band microwave solution that can provide up to 10 Gbps backhaul or CPRI fronthaul in the same scenario. E-band is lightly licensed, so the cost and time associated with licensing is minimal.
And while initial 5G efforts, as well as fiber densification and centralization of radio resources, are largely focused on major metropolitan areas, many cell sites serve suburban and rural areas. For those types of deployment scenarios, Ericsson has other products in the microwave portfolio that use bands from 6 GHz to 42 GHz to create a link of up to 30 miles. You can also combine different frequency bands to boost capacity and hop lengths in a multi-band booster configuration, using E-band’s wide channels for high capacity, and low frequency bands for long reach and high availability. This solution combines the best attributes of both frequency bands.
“Microwave is a complement to fiber and there’s going to be a different mix of 5G transport mechanisms for each and every operator,” Devillier said. “We provide a modular, flexible microwave platform that supports many different architectures, and gives operators the high-capacity, high-performance 5G transport options necessary to win the 5G race.”
To learn more about Ericsson’s 5G-ready microwave portfolio, MINI-LINK, click here. And to take a deeper dive into the role of fronthaul in 5G transport networks, check out this article. Download the latest edition of Ericsson Microwave Outlook report, released on December 6, 2018 here.
