Mobile Backhaul

10.4 MBH Solution Alternatives

When the hard facts about the environment and existing networks are known, as well as the goals of the new networks or network expansion, it is time to look at available solution options. A MBH network for a given mobile network can usually be designed in many different ways, even using quite different technologies and network strategies.

Therefore the first task is to limit the number of options by defining the main lines of the MBH solution – for example, whether an existing network is expanded with some functionality enhancements (minimizing disruption), or whether it is time for a wholly new network based on new technologies and equipment (minimizing ‘burden of past’).

Often the new packet based MBH network needs to be planned for significantly higher capacity than the existing MBH network, due to high mobile traffic forecasts already for the life-time of the first phase of network. For example, mobile traffic forecasts for an area for the next 2...5 years may mean that the MBH capacity should be 4...10 times higher than the present network. In such cases the present network offers mostly the infrastructure (sites and routes and possibly cables/fibers) for the new network, but otherwise the new packet based MBH network needs to be built more or less independently of the equipment presently used in the MBH network.

Another very important consideration is whether the new MBH network will be wholly based on the mobile operator's own facilities and ...