The Principles of 5G Backhaul: What You Need to Know in 2021
The possibilities of smart cities are exciting and can make our lives easier by saving time, being more cost-efficient, and connecting more systems together. Smart cities will connect sensors to quickly exchange information with computers and will need to connect all sorts of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and data in different locations. Experts predict that there will be over 3 billion devices connected by 2021.
That connection of devices to the core network makes up 5G backhaul. Currently, that network is built off of fibers and wires that are typically buried underground, or wireless antennas that stick out in a cityscape. The backhaul for network generations prior to 5G will not be able to withstand the needs of ultra-trialability, low latency and network density that 5G requires. Therefore, new methods are required to enable 5G backhaul.
However, if there is a way to reduce the number of wires needed for 5G backhaul, smart cities will be more agile, cheaper and quicker to implement, and will make less of an eyesore.
We’ll discuss the principles of 5G backhaul and ways to make it easier and cheaper to implement in the future.
What is 5G Backhaul?
The backhaul of a network consists of links from the core network to subnetworks. In 5G, the mobile network must be linked to the wired network through the backhaul. Thus, 5G backhaul refers to the signal between the 5G core and remote sites or networks.
Why is Backhaul Important?
The 5G backhaul will need to support a large bandwidth of devices and data, up to hundreds of gigabits of traffic from the core network. Building an efficient backhaul is critical to 5G to enable high speeds, large capacities and opening up a high bandwidth for numerous connected devices.
Nowadays users demand faster speeds, quicker downloads, and quality internet connections everywhere they go. 5G backhaul enables devices to wirelessly connect wherever they are. Additionally, any type of device can connect including smart phones, smart cities, industrial equipment and medical devices.
5G Backhaul vs Previous Generations
Under previous generations (up to 4G) meeting backhaul requirements were a challenge for the availability, cost, capacity and ability to cover long-distances. 5G networks actually add two more difficult factors to deploying backhaul including the very low latency requirements and dense traffic.
Previous generations used hundreds of MbE, while 5G will require Few GbE. Even among one user, a 5G-enabled device or smartphone can consume up to ten times more wireless capacity compared to 4G and earlier networks.
5G networks will have an extremely dense deployment and heavy traffic to manage, so the backhaul network will need to support hundreds of gigabits of traffic. Currently, existing backhaul networks cannot support the needs and requirements of 5G. However, innovative solutions can enable effective 5G backhaul networks.
Wired vs Wireless Backhaul
The big debate with 5G backhaul is whether to use a wired system or wireless. Each has its own potential benefits and drawbacks. Some cities may need to use a combination of both, depending on the use cases, budget, maintenance requirements and timeline.
Wired Backhaul
The problem is not that fiber is an efficient 5G backhaul solution, but that it is difficult to deploy and costly to install. Plus, it can take months to lay enough fiber to connect everything to the core.
Benefits of Fiber Backhaul for 5G
Fiber backhaul networks do provide a sufficient backhaul choice of over 10 Gbps and latency of hundreds of microseconds. Fiber is also one of the most popular backhaul solutions because it provides a high capacity and low bit error rate.
Disadvantages of Fiber Backhaul for 5G
However, fiber is not available or accessible for many use cases in 5G backhaul. A Fiber backhaul is not available everywhere and where it does not already exist, it may be impossible to install or extremely expensive and time-consuming. It can take several months to install compared to wireless installation which only takes weeks or days. ACiiST solution solved that disadvantage using the lampposts media.
Wired backhaul is not always as convenient as wireless backhaul, especially when it comes to smart city use cases. Many solutions for 5G backhaul, like classic fiber networks, still require underground cables that might not be possible or simply for every use case of smart cities. For instance, along main roads, installing underground cables would disrupt traffic for a significant amount of time and require rebuilding the road after installation. That is much more costly to accomplish. Again, ACiiST is the best solution to overcome the Smart City infrastructure limitation.
5G Wireless Backhaul
Wireless backhaul eliminates the need for cables or underground wires for wireless data transport and easier installation. Wireless backhaul (through microwave and millimeter wave) seems more readily available and easier to deploy however, it is more expensive compared to the ACiiST solution and suffer from environment disruption and generate negative public opinion.
Benefits of Wireless Backhaul for 5G
Less Disruptive.
For instance, with new innovations there is no need for digging and trenching or disrupting city traffic. Making it easier to access will also ensure it is easy to maintain.
Cost-efficient.
A 5G backhaul solution should have minimal cables, with little installation and maintenance costs.
Secure.
Finally, a 5G backhaul connection must be secured so that it protects the user and organization data and communications. Lack of security could cause large scandals, mistrust, and ultimately deter customers from using the solution.
Disadvantage of Wireless Backhaul for 5G
The only potential problem with a wireless 5G backhaul is that it can be disrupted depending on the weather conditions. A microwave backhaul solution will significantly vary performance based on weather conditions.
The reach of wireless backhaul will depend on the frequency bandwidth. A typical microwave RF can support up to 500 Mbps and reach up to 30 miles; however, lower frequencies can reach further but may not be as efficient for 5G networks.
In the end, smart cities may need a combination of both wireless and wired backhaul to support 5G networks and connected devices. However, if cities need a short-term solution with less disruption, they should consider wireless backhaul.
ACiiST Solutions
Unlike our competition, ACIIST solves the problem of building a 5G backhaul system with small devices that can be installed in existing light posts. That way, you can quickly and easily set up a smart city network without installing additional infrastructure that is costly and time-extensive to produce. ACiiST’s solution is 90 percent cheaper and 70 percent easier to maintain because it utilizes existing infrastructure.
We are innovating solutions that will enable the smart cities of the future. ACiiST e can convert existing streetlights into an urban IoT infrastructure that enables smart cameras, WiFi, sensor and connected devices without loss of performance. Additionally, any standard IoT devices can be added at the time of installation or down the line without disruption to citizens.
Prepare for the Smart Cities of the Future
The next generation of mobile devices and IoT devices will expand to all sectors of daily life: from smart traffic patterns to medical devices, to everyday smartphone use. 5G will enable faster speeds, lower latency and more bandwidth for a growing network of connected devices. However, a new backhaul infrastructure will be necessary to support this growth. This is part of the reason it’s taking so long to develop smart cities.
Cities will need to decide which backhaul solution is most effective for their use cases, budget and timeline. But, when looking for a solution that is convenient to install and maintain, utilizes existing infrastructure, and is secure, consider ACiiST solutions. Learn more about ACiiST and see if it is ideal for your 5G backhaul infrastructure.
