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There is no single technology solution that can alleviate the backhaul bottleneck as mobile networks migrate to 3G and HSPA technology and services. Rather, a mixture of technologies and solutions are required to address the challenge. Technologies addressing the backhaul bottleneck may be divided into two categories:
1. Technologies that increase backhaul infrastructure capacity
2. Solutions that enhance network performance through traffic aggregation and optimization - maximizing traffic and service delivery over existing infrastructure
Since there is no single solution for the backhaul bottleneck, operators will be using a mix of solutions from each of these two categories.
Increasing Backhaul Capacity through Infrastructure
When considering increasing backhaul infrastructure capacity, there are different solutions for the leased backhaul network and the owned or self-built network.
For the backhaul network based on leased capacity, adding conventional TDM leased lines (E1/T1 and STM1/OC3) may partially address the backhaul challenge at the cost of a significant increase in network OPEX and delay in the introduction of new services due to lead time of additional leased E1/T1’s.
New wireline access technologies, like xDSL and Metro Ethernet, may also be used as a cost effective alternative to backhaul cellular traffic. Initially, these services were planned to carry only best effort mobile data services, but they will migrate in the future to provide a converged IP RAN for all mobile services.
For the owned or self-built network, several solutions are available to increase backhaul capacity. Evolution of PTP microwave with adaptive modulation, new PTMP microwave technologies and WiMax are some of the alternatives to increase capacity on microwave backhaul infrastructure.
The ultimate solution is, of course, deployment of fiber down the access network close to the cell sites. However, this solution is often unviable, since today's fiber technologies can provide bandwidth relief only with huge up front investments and very long lead times to deployment.
Aggregation and Optimization
Another category of solutions is based on access switches that aggregate and optimize backhaul traffic flow, improving capacity delivery and overall network performance. In the past, TDM switches and access cross-connects were used in 2G networks. Today, with the rollout of 3G technologies, packet switches based on ATM or Ethernet/IP technologies are used. Some of these switches use traffic optimization in addition to standard layer 2 aggregation, in order to multiply the network capacity delivery performance. Such switches can also provide dynamic bandwidth allocation for all services, increasing network flexibility by handling real time variation in traffic demand and long term transition from traditional 2G to new 3G and HSPA services. These switches support QoS in order to properly allocate network resources, maximizing service delivery and ensuring operator revenue streams.
The Celtro Way
Celtro's DynaMate family of mobile access switches enables operators to significantly expand backhaul capacity, allowing effective and gradual transition from 2G to 3G traffic and cost-effective rollout of HSDPA – all while leveraging the existing infrastructure.
Celtro's unique aggregation and optimization solutions for the cellular backhaul network enable operators to enjoy the best of both worlds – lower or constant backhaul OpEx, no rise in CapEx, and increased revenues through rapid rollout of 3G and HSDPA services.
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