Optical access architectures for backhauling of broadband mobile networks

The growing demand of bandwidth, boosted by the availability of both “smart” end user devices and broadband services, challenges the current backhauling networks. Operators need to deploy multi-technology radio platforms (2G, 3G, 4G), possibly supplied by different vendors, in such a way to optimize the network CAPEX/OPEX. As a consequence, backhauling networks evolve towards solutions able, on one side, to collect high throughput from macro-cells (order of Gb/s), while on the other side to selectively increase the technology coverage within dense urban areas via small cells. A new backhauling model based on the centralization of baseband processing via remote CPRI (Common Public Radio Interface) appears as complementary to the conventional distributed baseband processing (IP backhauling). In this context a smart mix of optical technologies in combination with electronic aggregation, can optimize the overall backhauling solution allowing for optimal deployment of macro and small cells, while saving the network TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) to the operator and at the same time supporting the final end user experience.