A brief survey of radio access network backhaul evolution: part I

As radio access networks (RAN) are evolving, the accompanying backhaul technologies are also being adapted constantly to meet the required cost-performance curve. The evolution in the RAN backhaul is being triggered by the adoption of Ethernet as the physical interface and the proven advantages of IP in simplifying the network layer. This article attempts to survey some of the prevalent and upcoming backhaul technology trends based on the aforementioned evolution within RAN. Wherever possible, a critical analysis of a particular technology trend for its technical and commercial feasibility is also presented.