Transmission solutions and architectures for heterogeneous networks built as C-RANs

• Published in: 2012 7th International ICST Conference on Communications and Networking in China pp. 748 - 752
• Main Authors: Ghebretensae, Z., Laraqui, K., Dahlfort, S., Jingjing Chen, Yinggang Li, Hansryd, J., Ponzini, Filippo, Giorgi, Luca, Stracca, Stefano, Pratt, Andrew R.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 01.08.2012
• Subjects: 70/80GHz E-band microwave; C-RAN; Centralized baseband; Computer architecture; CPRI; Delay; Heterogenous network; Microwave circuits; Optical fiber devices; Optical fiber networks; Wavelength division multiplexing; WDM-PON
• ISBN: 9781467326988; 1467326984
• DOI: 10.1109/ChinaCom.2012.6417583

A novel end-to-end transport network solution is proposed to meet the operational and technical challenges of heterogeneous networks built as C-RANs with centralized base band processing and CPRI links. The flexibility of the proposed architecture to support distributed architectures and Ethernet links is also described and the results of a C-RAN proof of concept demonstration are discussed. Substantiated by the evolution of key optical technologies, including a novel WDM-PON based solution, we conclude that backhaul and metro network strategies need to flexibly support both centralized and distributed radio baseband solutions, as well as being multiservice capable. Additionally, as a complement to fiber, we propose use of the 70/80 GHz frequency band (E-band) to provide high performance microwave links for both centralized and distributed architectures.