WDM has played an important role in aggregation of cell trafc, but in the past was seldom used to

provide bandwidth directly to the cell site. Now, WDM-based solutions that ofer scalability, exibility,
and cost advantages are available. And they address requirements ranging all the way from the cell
site through aggregation and metro transport network. A WDM solution ofers carriers the scalability,
exibility, and operations model that mobile and xed/mobile operators need. It provides one solution
that extends all the way to the cell site, providing the capacity needed for both the growing Ethernet
based trafc and handling legacy TDM trafc. These networks provide ultra-low latency and high
performance synchronization.
Meeting the Mobile Backhaul challenges
1
Mobile broadband technologies associated with 3G, 4G
WiMAX and LTE are creating important new multimedia
service opportunities for both mobile operators and xed/
mobile operators worldwide, but the revenue opportunity
created by mobile multimedia services can only be realized
if the very real challenge of nding more cost efective
backhaul transport is overcome. Choosing the right solution
to cost efectively scale backhaul from the cell site to the
IP backbone can make or break the business case for a
carriers new mobile multimedia services. The use of ber
for backhaul makes increasing sense now as the backhaul
network has begun to scale dramatically - particularly when
coupled with an innovative and cost efective WDM solution
that provides exibility, scalability, and operations synergies.
The right backhaul solution must do far more than just
optimize cost; it must also ofer the low latency required
to support stringent synchronization requirements over
a packet transport network. Some networks benet from
the integration of key Layer 2 Ethernet features into the
transport network, providing high performance networks
at a lower cost. Networks require support of both TDM and
Ethernet trafc natively to support the installed base and
facilitate a smooth migration. The availability and cost of
licensed spectrum that an alternative microwave based
backhaul solution might require is also an issue to consider,
as are the distance capabilities and performance, availability
and reliability of any backhaul transport solution under
evaluation.
Figure 1 Cost challenges of 3G and 4G multimedia services mandate
backhaul optimization. Source : 2012, Infonetics Research
Whitepaper
Some service providers use pure Ethernet networks where
support for the Metro Ethernet Forums Carrier Ethernet
standard is critical. Other providers are moving to Ethernet
gradually and need a mixed environment supporting
Ethernet and TDM protocols, such as E1/T1 and SDH/SONET.
There are a variety of potential applications which increase
operational synergies by meeting cell site as well as metro
aggregation and transport requirements. For example,
Carrier Ethernet based networks could also be used for
GPON replacement for xed trafc. In a mixed xed and
mobile environment, trafc from PBX DSLAMs or OLTs
could be aggregated, or support provided for backhaul
from multiple generations of radio technologies. Separate
synchronization streams support requirements between
wholesale operators and those buying backhaul from a
wholesaler, and between those mobile operators that
choose to share their backhaul network with a competitor.
Finally, the latency, Quality of Service (QoS) and scalability
requirements for multimedia trafc are far more complex
than in the past, creating the need for a more cost efective,
exible, and scalable backhaul solution.
The mobile broadband multimedia
services opportunity
Mobile broadband capacity requirements are being driven by
3G and 4G technologies like HSPA, EV-DO Rev A and B, and
HSPA+. WiMAX and LTE are poised to enable even greater
advances in mobile data rates for the subscriber, creating
important new multimedia service opportunities for mobile
operators and xed/mobile operators worldwide.
Just how big the revenue opportunity associated with mobile
broadband will be is evident from the sheer growth in
mobile broadband subscribers worldwide, which has already
surpassed the total number of xed broadband users and is
expected to surpass the 2 billion mark in only a few years.
While the increase in mobile broadband subscribers in
itself has put signicant pressure on the existing backhaul
network resources, the real strain on the backhaul network
is only just beginning.
Mobile operators are experiencing sustained growth rates in
mobile data trafc, typically ranging from 150% to 300% or
higher annually. The introduction of 3G services can cause
very painful short term increases that are much higher
than the growth rates mentioned here. This is only the
start, as the inux of smart phones and computing devices
supporting higher modulation formats and data rates is
expected to drive that growth higher, and LTE will drive it
even further.
Sources of strain on the existing backhaul
network
As if the strain on backhaul network resources imposed by
greater availability of 3G and 4G mobile broadband capable
devices is not enough, it is accompanied by additional
strain due to the growing availability of bandwidth
intensive multimedia content, services and applications.
Image archiving and retrieval services, video and music
downloads, GPS and mapping services, subscriber targeted
and location based advertising, business VPNs, and GUI-
based applications controlling home entertainment and
computing resources are only a few examples of the many
services and applications that will drive a virtual explosion
in bandwidth requirements over the next few years. The
backhaul network is typically ill prepared to scale cost
efectively to meet the resulting growth, and that is a
situation that operators must change quickly if they are
to cash in on the full revenue opportunities associated
with mobile broadband. While the demand for mobile
multimedia services is unquestionably strong, there are
some very signicant challenges which operators must
overcome to successfully commercialize them.
The cost challenges of mobile broadband
services
The revenue that multimedia services generate per bit of
network bandwidth tends to be considerably less than
the revenue per bit generated by mobile telephony. This
problem is compounded by the fact that mobile broadband
services are now using signicantly more bandwidth than
mobile telephony. For this reason, achieving a protable
roll out of mobile broadband services requires that the
total cost of ownership per bit of transport must decrease
signicantly. A more cost efective backhaul solution must
be found as neither leased lines nor traditional microwave
is able to support a strong business case for scaling 3G
and 4G multimedia trafc. Ethernet will be a key part of a
cost efective solution, but mobile operators also need to
determine how best to achieve synchronization and multiple
generations of systems and a mix of 2G, 3G, and 4G.
2
Figure 2 Cost challenges of 3G and 4G multimedia services mandate
backhaul optimization.
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Evaluating the technology choices for
backhaul
For new network build-outs, most service providers
are choosing pure Ethernet implementations. In these
networks, service providers must consider supported
Carrier Ethernet attributes including standardized services,
scalability, service management, reliability and QOS.
Originally dened to run on one providers network, the
recent Carrier Ethernet 2.0 update enables multiple classes
of service and manageability over interconnected networks.
Key benets for mobile backhaul providers include 4G
migration and increased efciency with signicant cost
savings. Wholesale providers benet from simplied buying
and selling of wholesale services, and lower costs.
In a mixed environment, additional considerations for
existing leased lines and the installed base of legacy
microwave are often needed. These technologies often do
not scale cost efectively, and though the hybrid or packet
microwave solutions that are succeeding them provide
greater scalability, they are still subject to spectrum
constraints, varying link engineering rules on a city by
city basis, and reduced throughput due to atmospheric
attenuation when adaptive modulation is used. Many
operators do not have Passive Optical Network (PON)
assets to leverage, or nd that leveraging these assets
can only help them address a limited percentage of the
backhaul requirements. PWE3 (Pseudowire Edge-to-edge
emulation) aggregation devices introduce inefciencies
3
Access Media Technology Advantages Disadvantages
Copper-based
Leased lines Stable synchronization
High availability
Installed base
"N x" scalability model
Expense compared to multimedia
service revenues/bit
DSL Sweats existing assets
Immediate availability
Less scalable
Less supportive of synchronous peer to
peer trafc
Mismatch with DSL oversubscription
model
Suited for access only
EFM bonded copper Niche technology
Leverages spare pairs of copper
Consumes large amounts of existing
copper
Performance varies with copper plant
quality
No business model when special builds
of copper pairs / new copper is required
Suited for access only
Wireless-based
Legacy microwave Reliability
Known quantity
Spectrum availability and cost
Varying network availability
Inefciency of "daisy chains"
Per-city engineering rules
Line of site requirements
Hybrid and packet microwave Reliability
Known quantity
More efcient aggregation
Better scalability
Adaptive modulation for enhanced
availability
Spectrum availability
Spectrum cost
Varying weather-dependent network
capacity
Per-city engineering rules
Line of site requirements
Fiber-based
GPON Sweats existing assets where available
Passive operations model
Not justied for use where not already
deployed for FTTH/FTTC
Less exibility in native transport of
TDM and Ethernet
Not supportive of multiple synch
streams per connection
Suited for access only
WDM PON Highly scalable
Supports long distances
Young technology
Relatively costly solution
Best suited to niche applications
PWE3 Aggregator Competitive cost
Support for 2/3/4G
Encapsulation overhead
Complex adjustment to achieve synch
accuracy
Inability to support multiple synch
streams
WDM Highly scalable
Transport Ethernet solutions available
Can support native TDM and Ethernet
backhaul with multiple synch streams
Unparalleled scalability
Operations synergies, used in both
access and aggregation networks and
converged xed/mobile networks
Active and passive WDM options
provide exibility
Not as cost efective for some smaller
sites in the network
Figure 3 The advantages and disadvantages of ber and copper backhaul technologies
more cost efective and scalable solution for their backhaul
networks as a result. Ethernet based, cost optimized carrier
class WDM solutions provides native transport of both
Ethernet and TDM trafc supporting stringent performance,
QoS, synchronization and latency requirements of todays
mobile backhaul networks. These solutions can support a
variety of requirements cost efectively for network-wide
applicability, spanning both cell site access as well as
metro aggregation and converged xed/mobile network
aggregation.
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For further reading:
For more information regarding Transmodes Ethernet
Mobile Backhaul solution, please take a look at:
Ethernet Mobile Backhaul Application Note
Native Packet Optical Whitepaper
due to encapsulation, require careful engineering to ensure
consistent synchronization, and do not support multiple
synchronization streams to a cell site. Figure 3 shows some
of the pros and cons of various backhaul technologies
leveraging copper and ber-based access media.
The use of ber for backhaul makes increasing sense now
as the backhaul network begins to scale -particularly
when coupled with an innovative and cost efective WDM
solution that leverages cost optimized active and passive
technologies to provide exibility, scalability, and serve in
both a metro aggregation role and provide access to the cell
site.
What operators really need in a backhaul
solution
In addition to efcient and scalable transport, low latency
and accurate synchronization, operators also need backhaul
solutions that maximize the synergies across access and
aggregation in the backhaul network to minimize opera-
tions costs. Additionally, they need technologies that can
efectively complement the toolkit of access methods they
will utilize to best address the backhaul needs of the various
classes of cell sites that exist in their network.
Carrier Ethernet, packet optical networks and ber are
emerging as the media of choice where it exists or can be
extended cost efectively, and thanks to the growing FTTH
rollouts and ber builds in many markets. WDM can provide
one solution for backhaul access to the cell site, at aggrega-
tion nodes, and as a complement to other backhaul tech-
nologies in those cases where they make sense or exist as
part of the installed base.
Figure 4 shows the mobile operator checklist for evaluating
a good backhaul solution.
Conclusion: multiple technology choices
Bandwidth requirements are exploding due to multi-media
mobile broadband services and mobile operators need a
Backhaul solution wish list
Ethernet natively supported
Guaranteed performance for latency and jitter
Extreme scalability
Ability to complement and support or replace
pseudowires
Cost optimized options for cell sites over a range of
distances
Operations synergies within converged metro transport
networks
Applicability to both backhaul access and aggregation
network

If TDM required:
TDM natively supported
Major TDM and packet synchronization standards
Figure 4 Mobile operator checklist
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The specications and information within this document are subject to change without further notice.
All statements, information and recommendations are believed to be accurate but are presented
without warranty of any kind. Contact Transmode for more details.
www.transmode.com