Next Generation Backhaul Strategies for Heterogeneous Networks
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With the unpredictable nature of mobile data growth, fuelled by new 4G devices and services, operators must change their approach to backhaul strategy. The viability of 4G and supporting HetNets requires multiple technologies and, critically, depends on having adequate backhaul supply that can stretch to meet rising demand.
Networks will undoubtedly have to reuse existing backhaul capabilities, including fibre points of presence, management systems and cell site aggregation infrastructure. However, new solutions must be deployed to stretch the backhaul further, to all street furniture and other sites requiring capacity. These must include wireless backhaul options at new frequencies, new architectures, and take planning, site acquisition challenges, total cost of ownership, and accelerated installation and commissioning into account.
In this webinar, Peter Jennings, CTO at MLL Telecom, providers of fully managed networks and professional services to mobile and fixed operators, system integrators and the public sector, and Shayan Sanyal, CCO at point to multipoint millimetre wave backhaul specialists Bluwan, will share their experience in addressing small cell backhaul requirements. They will elaborate on how they are innovating to help mobile network operators evolve and meet the unique demands of the public access HetNet.
Attendees will:
- Learn how to address key planning/regulatory considerations for HetNet backhaul deployments
- Examine spectrum implications for small cell backhaul
- Identify the essential components in the ‘backhaul toolbox’ and how they can be used to deliver high bandwidth to multiple sites, while keeping total control of your cost of ownership
- Discover how new innovative, point to multipoint millimetre wave solutions can help increase the required bandwidth density and provide backhaul elasticity to your HetNets
Tags; 4G, Archive, backhaul, Bluwan, Featured, Heterogeneous Networks, HetNets, MLL Telecom, Small Cells, telecoms.com
Thank you for all your questions today, this Q&A is now closed. You can email your questions directly to Shayan Sanyal and Peter Jennings sending them to ssanyal@bluwan.com or p.jennings@mlltelecom.com
Dear Shayan/ Peter,
Kindly share your email ID to request for webinar slides.
Unfortunately i missed the webinar, but i’l view the archived one from telecoms.com
Thanks,
Peter Manoj
So does the Bluewave solutions for small cells and hetnets really cover the management of these systems as well as OAM?
Hi Musa – not sure I fully understand the question… are you referring to the entire eco-system (i.e. management of multiple backhaul systems and multiple access technologies) or the management of the LinkFusion system only?
Thanks everyone for all your great questions. Don’t hesitate to contact Peter or myself for more information on MLL Telecom or Bluwan.
From an equipment perspective (I’ll let Peter tackle the management / operator aspects), we create ‘bandwidth pools’ and the capacity can be flexibly allocated to various ‘hot spots” when and where needed. Provisioning and configuration of this is out of the box, so its pretty straight forward. Please note that LinkFusion is an all IP solution, therefore we aren’t focused on backhauling 2G voice.
How easy is to manage/monitor/configure this backhaul technology having in mind the legacy backhaul connections and dependencies between them from capacity point of view. For example if you as an operator expect a certain load in a specific area, covered with 2g/3g/small cells, how will you configure all the backhaul connections the most easy way?
What about SON?
Hi Galina,
Very good question. Monitoring of the equipment happens the same way as other technologies. At MLL Telecom we have a vendor and technology agnostic NoC managing our trial. This technology provides dedicated capacity to a small cell allowing for capacity planning into a high capacity aggregation node. Usual backhaul capacity planning rules will then apply.
SON will work for the small cell to macro configuration.
From an equipment perspective (I’ll let Peter tackle the management / operator aspects), we create ‘bandwidth pools’ and the capacity can be flexibly allocated to various ‘hot spots” when and where needed. Provisioning and configuration of this is out of the box, so its pretty straight forward. Please note that LinkFusion is an all IP solution, therefore we aren’t focused on backhauling 2G voice.
Hi Rouba,
MLL Telecom are UK only.
Analysed FSO and mmWave systems in the past promising multiple GE sector coverage – however the logistics of deployment in an urban environment with LOS kill the economics. Relays mean increased site deployment and maintenance costs. Fiber in the ground will always be a better choice for back-haul if you can get access.How does Bluwan differ from any other technology option in that environment?
Hi Ian, thanks for your question. First off, the Bluwan LinkFusion system is a point to multipoint system, whereas free space optics and all existing mm wave solutions are currently Point to Point. This means they don’t provide sector coverage, but provide daisy chained links. I absolutely agree that this poses an immense challenge from an urban planning and deployment perspective.
I’d also add that the lasers in FSO are extremely narrow, and difficult to align and prone to vibration, which can easily disrupt connectivity. The LinkFusion system provides 90 degree sector coverage out of the box, and the terminal equipment has a 6 degree beamwidth that enables easier alignment.
Regarding fibre, the biggest problem is when faced with the massive increase in density, how is an operator going to obtain the way leaves, the council approvals to have the streets trench or closed off, etc. That is the biggest challenge for small cells. The capex costs alone are prohibitive.
I looked at a a couple of different PtMP in mmWave options as well. Distance ‘achievable’ in cold, wet climates and LOS urban holes were issues that stopped the projects. Feel free to follow up and we can see if there are opportunities to pursue.
Hi Ian – would be very interested to discuss what solution set you’ve looked at. Distance achievable in rain zone E for LinkFusion can go up to 1.5 – 2.3 km depending on end point capacity and modulation. Working with MLL, we’ve found this to be quite compatible with SCB requirements in metro areas. Will touch base with you.
Enjoyed the presentation, would the webinar still be available later for viewing? Will the slides be shared?
Yes the webinar will be available for viewing. Contact us directly for a copy of the slides.
Ok This is very important to me .. Will add you on linked in ..
Hey guys. What kind of site density are either MLL Telecom or Bluwan seeing in the UK or other mature markets ?
Hi Trevor,
You are correct on listed buildings, but not for other street furniture etc. With this type of deployment small cell site would have the radio NTE and small cell, so no feeder cables etc.
Ok thats good then. I still think the planners will object in conservation areas. Given their general objections to many small things, the proliferation of more street furniture will make them harder work than it should be. Innovative solutions are needed to avoid it for those areas. Food for thought… I’m very interested in the small cell roll out. Thanks for a great presentation. rgds
Hi Jim,
From our work on Small Cells so far we are expecting this to grow over time. We have a view on the UK market and are planning for up to 10 small cells per macro in dense deployments.
When you consider de minimis planning considerations, this is not going to apply to listed buildings, conservation areas etc.. In addition, don’t you think its the feeder cables etc., that will be more upsetting for planners and the like rather than the actual box element of the install.
Great webinar -thanks. What’s per hop latency like on LinkFusion?
do u have a presence in Middle east
Hi Rouba – yes, we have a few partners in the Middle East covering the GCC, Egypt, and Turkey. Contact me offline for more details.
Do you have presence in India?
Hi Rochak, not at the present time. The rain zone in India could prove challenging especially during Monsoon
, but worth analysing.
Hi Rochak,
MLL Telecom are UK only.
AM sorry to have joined late.
please share the slides.
Hi contact us directly for a copy of the slides; the webinar will be archived for later viewing.
How does this approach impact an Operator when deploying a macro network?
This is complementary to the Macro network. The growth seen going forward is small cells underlaying the Macro. The BluWan solution can utilise Macro sites fixed backhaul for high capacity linking to the small cell deployment. This can also link to additional macro sites.
could you send us presentation ?
Please contact us directly for a copy of the presentation. The webinar will be available on telecoms.com for archived viewing.
Hi Shayan,
can you share your email
I should have yours, or you can find me on LinkedIn