Reader Forum: Rethinking mobile backhaul for maximum cost efficiency

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The introduction of 3G and 4G technologies have resulted in a mobile data explosion. At the same time, the equipment and operational costs associated with traditional backhaul methods are rising faster than the revenues generated by the new data services. In order to respond to the dramatic growth in mobile data traffic and to ensure a positive user experience, operators are looking to upgrade backhaul capacity quickly and cost effectively.
There are several alternatives available today for delivering high-capacity backhaul, yet they each have limitations. Ethernet over copper has capacity and distance limitations. Ethernet over fiber is reliable, secured and scalable; however, extending fiber to a cell site is a lengthy process with high initial costs.
Microwave has the advantages of a quick deployment, with the ability to provide high capacity with a short return on investment compared with fiber deployments. However, due to high demand, the 6-38 GHz spectrum is becoming increasingly congested, leading to reduced availability of larger channels which in turn leads to increased pricing for these popular frequency bands.
The newly allocated E-Band spectrum 71-76 GHz, 81-86 GHz and 92-95 GHz, also referred to as the “next generation wireless backhaul spectrum,” has ample capacity available and the frequency licensing costs are significantly lower. Furthermore, due to focused and narrow “pencil beams” in this spectrum, it is possible to re-use the same frequency within a relatively smaller geographical area meaning that there is practically unlimited spectrum in this band.
However, until now, even given these advantages, the high costs of the millimeter-wave equipment utilizing this frequency spectrum have been an obstacle to mass adoption.
By redefining every aspect of millimeter-wave backhaul solutions, from component to system design, equipment manufacturers can introduce an unprecedented low cost structure to the market making E-Band wireless backhaul solutions extremely cost effective solutions to relieve the mobile bandwidth bottleneck.
Leveraging cutting-edge, Silicon-based very large scale integrated (VLSI) system-on-chip architecture, millimeter systems can be designed with fewer components, a smaller footprint and reduced power requirements, resulting in significantly lower initial equipment costs and less costly installations and maintenance.
The highly integrated, all-silicon design, results in a small all-outdoor footprint eliminating the need for an indoor unit and all the related costs, such as rack space, power and air conditioning. In addition, antennas that are especially designed for millimeter wave frequencies, and thereby optimized for additional cost reduction are also smaller (less than 1 foot) in size. The result is a small light-weight “belt-able” complete unit that reduces equipment and operational costs, and also blends in easily with the environment.
Another benefit of the silicon-based solutions is the greatly reduced power consumption easing the requirements for power feeding systems including rectifiers, power generators and batteries for power backup resulting in additional savings. The low power consumption also means that the units can be directly fed using power over Ethernet or even from a solar panel, making them environmentally friendly solutions.
Despite the low cost of f licenses of the E-Band spectrum the equipment cost of current millimeter wave wireless solutions of $20,000 to $40,000 per link has prevented these solutions from mass deployments. Designing millimeter-wave systems with an eye for cost efficiency results in equipment costs that are less than 20% of the cost of existing solutions. Combined with the lower spectrum fees this enables a reduction of 80% in TCO. These cost-optimized solutions are an attractive, viable, and cost-effective option for mobile backhaul which is expected to contribute greatly to relieve the critical backhaul bottleneck and bring genuine mobile broadband user experience to the subscribers.