Photonic-Assisted G-Band Wireless Links for 5G Backhaul

Mobile networks face a strong pressure to provide ubiquitous connectivity with increasing data bitrates. High cell densification is the natural evolution for 5G networks to reach these goals. This requires a high density backhaul network. The envisaged traffic demands require bandwidths that are not available in the microwave region. The G-band (230 – 330 GHz) in the sub-THz region offers very large continuous and unregulated bandwidth that can be exploited for 5G backhauling. The flexibility and bandwidth of fibre optic technology can be employed in the development of sub-THz wireless networks in combination with other technologies such as solid state and vacuum electronics. This combination of different technologies is the strategy pursued in the European Project ULTRAWAVE. Here, the potential of photonics to assist in the deployment of wireless backhaul networks for 5G networks in the G-band is reviewed.