Densifying NextG Cells with Wireless Backhaul

Deploying small cells with wireless backhaul promises to improve aggregate NextG cel-lular system capacity and coverage, and reduce the need for disruptive and costly new fiber installations. However, wireless backhaul architectures introduce design challenges and open research questions at multiple protocol layers, ranging from siting new cells to multi-hop topology management. To address siting challenges we introduce a new, open-source software-based Small Cell Topology Design Tool to help guide Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and other stakeholders with planning the feasible place-ment of cells.