Benchmarking the Performance of Mobile Mid-haul Networks with Multi-flow Optical Transponders

The next-generation mobile networks follow the 3GPP disaggregated Radio Access Network (RAN) model, composed of three separate functional units: Centralized Unit (CU), Distributed Unit (DU), and Radio Unit (RU), and its interconnection network infrastructures, front-haul, between RU and DU and mid-haul, between DU and CU. The current focus has been extensively on the front-haul, proposing a myriad of networking technologies and resource allocation solutions. Mid-haul transport infrastructure has received comparably less attention. This paper explores the implementation and performance of optical multi-flow transponders in mobile mid-haul networks. It evaluates the performance of mid-haul mesh topologies with different DU placement methods. Numerical results show the achievable throughput and blocking performance. We also derive the number of Multi-flow optical transponders (MOTP) units deployed, as well as the related trade-offs.