Wireless Fronthaul Technology

Wireless fronthaul for smart deployment

January 2016

EBlink Confidential and proprietary

Leading fronthaul solutions

Recognized best-in-class
fronthaul signal processing
Market trends
From distribution… RRU
…to densification & optimization

Mobile Backhaul (fiber / wireless) x10

core BBU

RRU and µRRU

Carrier aggregation CoMP, vRAN
RRU
LTE – A / 5G / SDN NFV RRU
µRRU
RRU µRRU
RRU

RRU
SDN/NFV BBU

µRRU µRRU

Fronthaul (fiber / wireless)

Mobile µRRU
core

…to centralization… Macro, Remote cell, Metro cell, Small cell

Network metamorphosis with SDN/NFV

Fronthaul
 Fronthaul for network centralization

Wireless & fiber: complementary for fronthaul deployments

RRU

Wireless
SDN/NFV
+
Fiber
RRU

Core Multiplexer Edge Multiplexer Color

BBU Hotel
Module Module Converter

Backhaul Fronthaul
Leveraging existing fiber infrastructures and using wireless
to ease & accelerate deployment and reduce costs
EBlink within the ecosystem
Microwave
Today vendors
Core IP
RRU
Future vendors

SDN/NFV
RAN & DAS
vendors

RRU

RAN Optical
vendors vendors

Backhaul Fronthaul
EBlink’s core fronthaul technologies & expertise:
central to next-generation mobile network ecosystems
Optical transceiver market growth

Mobile fronthaul market > 15x mobile backhaul market

Source: LightCounting Nov. 2014
Mobile fronthaul market size

Market growing by 40% each year (2014-2020)

Source: The HetNet Bible 2014-2020
FrontLink™ Introduction
FrontLinkTM : Validated by the industry

EBlink confidential and proprietary 10

FrontLink™ 58 – wireless fronthaul @ 7.5 Gbps

Sector 3 Sector 2

RRU RRU

RRU
Example
Sector 1
S1: LTE 2600
S2: LTE 2600
BBU 3 CPRI Tri-sectors S3: LTE 2600
3 CPRI
•  5.8GHz frequency band
•  Line of sight, up to 1.6 km
•  Up to 7.5 Gbps - 3x LR3 RRU
RRU
RRU

•  SNMP & IPv6 support

Example
•  30x30cm integrated antenna B1: LTE 2600
B2: LTE 1800
•  60x60cm external antenna Tri-bands B3: LTE 800
For remote systems

Macro RRUs

3 CPRI
BBU 3 CPRI For

Feeding a DAS Micro RRUs

FrontLinkTM 58 – Remote Macro sector

BBU CPRI CPRI

Example: Verizon – METLife Stadium (New Jersey)

Stadium iDAS:
Provides capacity and
coverage in stadium and
building

RRU
RRU
Additional remote sectors
Leverage existing iDAS resources and off-
load macro-network

14
FrontLinkTM 58 – Remote Small sector

mRRUs
2203

BBU CPRI CPRI

Small sector with μRRU Metro RRH

•  No overlay networks
•  Less interferences
•  Better mobility

Book RRU
Small sector innovation

Industrialisable
solution

Fully integrated
with macro
network
Example: Bytel – La Defense

ü  Best mobility
Macro sectors
ü  Less interferences
ü  Future proof
ü  LTE features

Wireless
Fronthaul

Small sector
Small sector
Small sector
FrontLinkTM 58 – Remote DAS

RRU + DAS

“BBU” CPRI CPRI Or

CPRI DAS
Example: ATT – New Jersey HQ
Value proposition for operators

•  EXTEND: no need of new macro-sites and fibre

•  EXTEND / DENSIFY: small sectors & remote macro sectors

•  Best architecture for LTE-A features, VRAN, 5G,… R a dio

d by
f e r e ro of
•  STOP deploying overlay networks! Pre ture p
Fu
FrontLink™ Product
Easy to install, configure and monitor

2 hours
Remote monitoring
installation

Simple antenna Multiple

alignment supervision options

Zero impact to Low power

weather conditions consumption

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y54vjqvnGrI
2 min video
Antenna options – Distances

30x30 cm 200 m 30x30 cm

BBU RRU

60x60 cm 300 m 30x30 cm

BBU RRU

400 m 60x60 cm
60x60 cm

RRU
BBU
Antenna options – Distances

30x30 cm 400 m 30x30 cm

BBU RRU

60x60 cm 800 m 30x30 cm

RRU
BBU

1600 m 60x60 cm
60x60 cm
RRU
BBU
Wireless fronthaul vs. fiber : similar performance

Fiber-based Fronthaul Wireless Fronthaul Fiber-based Fronthaul Wireless Fronthaul

Network accessibility Network retainability

Commercial
Network
Fiber-based Fronthaul Wireless Fronthaul

Network mobility
Source: Orange France
Wireless fronthaul vs. fiber : similar performance

Fiber-based Fronthaul Wireless Fronthaul

Commercial
Network integrity Network
RTT ping 32 bytes RTT ping 1400 bytes

Source: Orange France

Management Principles
•  Drivers
•  Centralized : 1 WFM manages the alarms & configuration of whole product
•  Flexible : several OAM options to fit various deployment strategies

•  Outband Mgt
•  Dry relay contacts RAN
EMS OAM BBU CPRI FL58 FL58 CPRI RRH

•  Simplest solution DCN FL58 conf/mgt

•  Continuous access to product status FL58 LRMT

Remote conf/mgt
Local conf/mgt
•  Physical access : Circular connector FL58 LRMT

•  IP Mgt
•  Full monitoring (inc. Firmware upgrade)
•  Interfaces to customer mgt system
•  Physical access : RJ45 connector
•  1 IP address only required

•  Inband Mgt (Future) RAN

OAM CPRI
EMS BBU FL58 FL58 RRH
Full monitoring (inc. Firmware upgrade)
CPRI
•  FL58 conf/mgt
DCN FL58 conf/mgt

FL58 conf/mgt
•  Embedded in RAN vendor OAM Link
Local conf/mgt
•  Requires RAN vendor OAM evolution FL58 LRMT

Full Flexibility
EBlink Confidential and proprietary
 A full range of OAM capabilities
Mode Interface FM PM (*) CM
Name Connector Parameters FW upgrade

Dry relay Circular

ü
Outband IP RJ45
ü ü ü ü
(CLI + SNMP&SNTP) (FTP or SNMP) (CLI) (FTP&CLI)

Inband (*) CPRI Fiber

ü ü ü ü

Alarm Circular connector

(*) : future
RJ45 connector

FrontLink™: fully managed & supervised remotely through IP

LRMT
Local & Remote Maintenance Terminal
•  Functionality
•  Installation
•  Detects installation mismatches
•  Triggers / Helps alignment
•  Monitoring
•  Concise & Self explanatory product status
•  Details available in a matter of a click
•  Configuration
•  Simple selection of RAN configuration

•  Local or Remote Connection

•  Connected to Central module
•  On RJ45 (Outband mgt)

•  Requirement
•  PC with RJ45 connector
•  Windows™ 7 or Windows™ 8

Intui:ve interac:on with FL58

Competition Summary
1 LTE CPRI
2.5 Gbps CPRI in 500Mhz
1 x 2.5 Gb/s
RRU

2.5 Sector 1
BBU

Industry

3 LTE CPRI
3 x 2.5 Gb/s Sector 3 Sector 2
7.5 RRU RRU

BBU
RRU
BBU
Sector 1
7.5 Gbps In 70 MHz BBU

EBlink confidential and proprietary 30

2016 FL58 - Roadmap

(OBSAI)

3 CPRI 4G FDD 3 CPRI 4G FDD IoT on request IoT on request

3 CPRI 3G FDD 3G on request

3 CPRI mixed 3G, 4G

Top use cases in Europe
Campus Indoor - coverage & QoE 6
201

6
Low cost Medium Enterprise coverage 201

Avoid / Swap 3G repeaters – Best radio design 0 1 6

2

Events / Temporary – Capacity & brand reputation

6
201
Indoor – Private campus

BBU RRU

Fibre EBlink
Indoor – Private campus – add coverage

BBU RRU

Fibre EBlink
Top use cases in Europe

Low cost Medium Enterprise coverage

0 1 6
2
Entreprise segments & solutions

Small Medium size Large

Buildings Buildings Buildings

Dedicated
DSL + Femto RBS + optic DAS
RBS + DAS

10 – 20K€ 60 – 200K€ 200K€ - 1M€

Address this segment with 15-25K€ budget for customers

FrontLink 58 + RRU: solution for medium size buildings

Existing
macro site
RRU 3
Existing RRU 2
RRU 1
BBU rack

4th RRU feeds iDAS

RRU 4

Existing fiber BH
Indoor – No need of dedicated BTS

Entreprise 3
Entreprise 1

Entreprise 2
Indoor – Use case Ireland
 Wireless RRU process & success recipe

1 Define spots to optimize in terms of QoE and monetization

Central business Airports ?

district ? Indoor
/ outddor
spots
Hotels ? Shopping mall ?

Central Mobile
Stations ? stores ?
Stadiums ? Tourist areas ?
 Wireless RRU process & success recipe

2 Localize your existing sites nearby your target spots

1 Identify macro site

target indoor spot

Top use cases in Europe

Avoid / Swap 3G repeaters – Best radio design

0 1 6
2
 Avoid 3G/4G repeaters
No supervision
Amp Not 4G optimized
iDAS
Unreliable
Indoor antenna

BH Flexible coax Drains capacity of donor cell

Existing macro site
Fiber
3 sectors
Gain supervision
Gain stability
RRU
4G ready
iDAS Increase capacity
Ease frequency planning
Improve performance
BH

Existing macro site

adding 4th sector (FrontLink)
Remote sector for Indoor VIP Hotel

Macro site

Remote sector

44
Top use cases in Europe

Events / Temporary – Capacity & brand reputation

6
201
Events – Roland Garros tournament

BBU RRU

Fibre EBlink
 Temporary capacity relief – traditional CoW/CoLT
Concerts/festivals

Special events
Post disaster 70% loaded
recovery
100% loaded

20% loaded
CoW placement is often limited

Coverage objective is rarely met

Cell on Wheels
Sector loading is unbalanced
BH to RNC/EPC
Backhaul is often difficult or impossible
Compliment to traditional CoWs– Using FrontLink 58
Concerts/festivals
80% loaded
Special events FrontLinked sector

Post disaster 80% loaded

recovery

80% loaded

Strategically place sectors

Balance traffic Cell on Wheels

Optimize coverage BH to RNC/EPC

Existing macro site

FrontLink™ Roadmap
Roadmap based on strong core patents

•  Multi-frequency

•  Lowest line rate cost

•  > 30Gbps (multi operators)

•  Sub system integration

through partnerships

Open and
modular
platform
EBlink’s portfolio expansion

FrontLink™ 2018
Multi- frequency (5.8 GHz, 23 GHz, 80 GHz)
Multi-media (wireless and fiber)
Multi-service (fronthaul, backhaul, midhaul)

FrontLink™ 2014
1 frequency (5.8 GHz)
1 media (wireless)
1 service (fronthaul)
Open platform
Modular platform
RAN
INTERFACE DIGITAL capacity
Applied on Driving Link distance
POWER RADIO

Large range of frequencies

Form factor
Traditional µwave bands

Millimeter waves
Sub 6GHz
 … leading to a large set of fronthaul solutions
Link distance with 30cm integrated antenna
→ doubled with 60cm external antenna

1km FL180
FL230
Link distance

FL380
FL420
18-42 GHz
Classic microwave Link distance with 15cm integrated antenna
form factor

500m FL58-45 FL800

Unlicensed 5.8GHz
30x30 form factor
FL58-60 FL600 mmWave
15x15 form factor
Capacity
5Gbps 7.5Gbps 10Gbps 10-30Gbps
EBlink’s fronthaul target roadmap

2015-2016

2016-2017

2017-2018

2018

Evolution FL58 FL230 FL800 Digital board => MCM

Features ++ Wireless fronthaul 23 GHz Wireless fronthaul 80 GHz Wide integration capabilities
Cost -- Long distance High capacity Multi-media, multi- service
Pilot(s) discussion
What do we you to achieve in 2016?

•  Objectives? KPI?

•  Timing?

•  Budget?

•  PR?

•  Innovation?

•  Ericsson involvement?

•  Beyond the pilot?

Pilot pricing & support

Site candidates selection with Stephane = FREE

FL58 PRODUCTS = 12 647 euros

Service / support with Christophe = 3 200 euros

•  site feasibility report, based on infos provided by customer,
•  commissioning and installa6on support to customer
Showcasing mobile fronthaul in France : fiber + wireless

Fiber and wireless : the right alchemy for

fronthaul
 Combining fiber and wireless fronthaul : Orange’s case

Mobile coverage
done by only RRHs

Central
office

BBU BBU

BBU BBU

Wireless BBU

BBU
BBU

BBU
Fronthaul BBU BBU

BBU BBU

Optical
Fronthaul BBU stacks, then resource pool & virtualization

Source: Philippe Chanclou – Orange Corporate - @ LTE World Summit 2014 Amsterdam

Leveraging existing fiber infrastructure from BBU hotel and using

wireless whenever needed (to ease, speed up and reduce costs)
A range of fronthaul solutions available today
RRH

RRH
RRH

RRH

BBU TP
MDU MDU
RRH
RRH

TP
3x CPRI

BBU
Op3
MDU

TP

RRH

RRH
RRH

MDU

3x CPRI
Op3

Infinera optical fronthaul EBlink wireless fronthaul

§  8ch CWDM filters (MDU) §  Wireless link @ 5.8 GHz
§  Active Transponders (TP) §  Up to 3 sectors (7.5 Gbps)
§  Single fiber CWDM SFPs (HD CWDM, 2.5Gbps) §  Remotely managed link
§  Remotely managed SFPs (HD CWDM, 2.5Gbps) §  Remote power supply

E2E performance combining fiber and wireless fronthaul

Live in Lannion – wireless fronthaul link
wireless
fronthaul
 Fiber and wireless : the right alchemy for fronthaul

“Combining fiber and wireless is key wireless

fronthaul
to successful mobile fronthaul
implementation. Thanks to Infinera
and EBlink, we have been able to
show the integration of mobile
fronthaul with Orange RAN vendors
and demonstrate end-to-end
performance”
Optical fronthaul

Philippe Chanclou
Orange Labs Team Manager
Leading fronthaul solutions

Recognized expertise in
fronthaul signal processing