Mobile Backhaul

4.8 Summary

Transport can be modeled as a service to the radio network: consisting of a mobile network element integrated transport and of a backhaul service. Requirements for the backhaul service originate from the end user services and from the radio network layer functionality. For the backhaul, all traffic types need to be considered: user plane, control plane, O&M, synchronization and transport layer control protocols. Different radio network technology base stations interface the backhaul network with different backhaul protocols: TDM, ATM or IP.

Mobile networks need high capacity access lines for the base stations in order to deliver the data rates supported on the air interface. Flexibility and versatility is needed in the aggregation tier as the services needed are specific to the radio technology used in the base station. MPLS was discussed as one alternative for supporting both the native IP services as well as the pseudowire emulation services for the legacy TDM and ATM interfaces.

Generally in networking protocols operate in local area (LAN) or in Wide Area (WAN). Each base station needs a Metro or Wide area connectivity with the peer element – a controller, a GW or a control plane entity. For the wide area connectivity, high availability, security and QoS are essential. A carrier grade service is needed.

With Ethernet port in the base stations high capacities can be supported with a single physical port. The service delivering the high capacity on the Ethernet port ...