Mobile backhaul resource centre

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The demand for data from the consumers is going to increase exponentially over the next few years and new technologies in the RAN, notably 3G and LTE, are being deployed to facilitate this. But it doesn't matter how much new capacity is deployed if we can't backhaul the traffic into the mobile core network . This resource centre consolidates a number of useful papers, views and resources for those trying to cope with the growth in mobile backhaul demand.

Mobile Backhaul information in plain English

Handy mobile backhaul information from MLL's experts

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Backhaul Traffic Growth Studies

Cisco's Global Mobile Data Forecast 2010 - 2015 (Feb 1st 2011) provides numerous statistics that show data will have increased by 26-fold by 2015. The paper is well worth a read as it highlights the need to optimise the backhaul and details the sources of traffic growth.

Deloitte predicts that WiFi will prevail over mobile broadband, with mobile broadband only being utilised for specific applications and users. If their prediction is correct then how does WiFi backhaul capacity would compare with 3G/LTE and will there be enough to make this option work. Watch Delotte's view on video and read the summary of their thoughts here.

Information from the experts at MLL Telecom

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Alternative Solutions to Backhaul Capacity increases


Increases in backhaul capacity are inevitable but there a number of other approaches that will also relieve congestion in the backhaul network and can be complimentary to throwing more bandwidth at the problem.

One way to deal with data demand is to optimise the RAN. IQstream's white paper Adaptive Content Optimisation in the RAN; Smoothing Mobile Broadband Peaks explores this unique solution that can save up to 90% of data capacity during peak periods.

This white paper from consultant Andy Jones explores the mobile profitability gap that will ensue from the surge in data demand and offers a solution in the form of Adaptive Backhaul.

http://www.mlltelecom.com/news-views/white-papers/4/Could-Adaptive-Backhaul-close-the-Mobile-Broadband-Profitability-Gap

There are a number of complementary techniques that can compress the bandwidth consumed by mobile data, such as video compression which reduces the quality of the video image down to a level appropriate for a mobile device.
There are also opportunities to cache data within the core, which will save bandwidth in the core and at the Internet transit connection (but won't help save backhaul bandwidth). Juniper Networks' paper Optimizing the Network for Video Delivery gives a useful overview of techniques that are complementary to RAN Optimisation discussed earlier.

Information from the experts at MLL Telecom

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How to Buy Backhaul; managed service vs. self-build, dedicated vs. shared

If you are buying backhaul capacity as a managed service, then this paper from MLL Telecom is a useful checklist on what your service provider should be offering.

RAN sharing promises cost sharing at the cell site and also potentially cost savings through aggregating backhaul links. This case study from Nokia Siemens Networks shows how two competing operators have come together in Sweden to RAN share on their 3G network.

Information from the experts at MLL Telecom

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Mobile Backhaul in a legacy RAN

It's well accepted that the RAN is moving to IP and Ethernet but in the meantime most operators still have to backhaul TDM traffic as well as Ethernet. This case study from Ericsson shows how Tele2 became one of the first operators to reap the benefits of moving to an all-IP RAN.

Information from the experts at MLL Telecom

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White papers

Adaptive Content Optimisation in the RAN
22 Feb 2011 - The Mobile Broadband Dilemma Driven by the popularity of 'smart' mobile devices, a plethora of compelling applications and attractive unlimited data plans, consumer demand for rich media content such as Internet video is pushing most wireless backhaul broadband networks to unprecedented levels of congestion. This paper explores how the Radio Access Network, (RAN) is affected, and the technologies that respond to this problem.
Could Adaptive Backhaul close the Mobile Broadband Profitability Gap?
24 Mar 2010 - As users consume more and more data it's becoming clear that the profitability of Mobile Broadband services is falling short of traditional margins for Voice and Short Message Services. In this article we examine how an emerging "adaptive" backhaul transport network could provide a key part of the answer to mobile broadband profitability.

Blog posts

The French call it "bouchon", for me it's an annoying bottle-neck Ian Catlin - 23 Jun 2011
Reading Nick Wood's blog ("Nick Wood, Total Telecom, in Singapore Tuesday 21 June 2011)":http://www.totaltele.com/view.aspx?ID=465722 made me think about my recent trip to France... … Read more
Harry Potter and the Mobile Backhaul Upgrade MLL Telecom - 22 Jun 2011
If you had told me a couple of years ago that I would be able to talk about Harry Potter and "mobile backhaul":http://www.mlltelecom.com/what-we-do/wireless-links in the same sentence I would have thought you odd… Read more
The End of Net Neutrality – An inevitability if we want fast mobile broadband MLL Telecom - 03 Jun 2011
Mobile Operators are dealing with surges in data demand that will require an upgrade of their networks. But I doubt this is breaking news to you. The issue of net neutrality is not really news either, but it hasn't achieved anywhere near as much coverage… Read more
Royal Weddings, Cup Finals & Your Mobile MLL Telecom - 09 May 2011
The Royal Wedding in April broke the online streaming records - beating both President Obama's Inauguration and the 2010 World Cup, with an estimated 400 million viewers on YouTube alone… Read more
New Year and New Predictions Stuart Borgman - 01 Feb 2011
With the introduction of the New Year, I always look forward to reading the predictions for what we can expect for the year; a fresh year and new opportunity… Read more
Property Issues are STILL a bugbear for Telecom Operators Chris Stratton - 04 Jan 2011
Looking back on the development of mobile networks, the major constraint on roll-out was always the ability to deploy new sites… Read more
Network Monetization Stuart Borgman - 07 Apr 2010
My learned colleague Richard Brandon recently posted a blog to this site summarising his thoughts around the recent Barcelona Mobile World Congress… Read more
Microwave vs Fibre in the LTE marketplace. Pete Norris - 10 Mar 2010
I've recently been bombarded by invites to webinars, webcasts and product exhibitions all preaching to me the value of microwave in the world of 3.5G+ and LTE… Read more
Mobile World Congress 2010: Bread today, Jamon tomorrow? Richard Brandon - 19 Feb 2010
I have to confess I rather enjoyed this year's mobile fest in Barcelona. Aside from enjoying some excellent plates of local _Jamon_ I was also treated to a plethora of LTE network demonstrations… Read more
The Today programme wakes up to mobile data Richard Brandon - 21 Jan 2010
My first waking moment is usually defined by the BBC's John Humphries as my alarm-radio tunes itself into Radio Four's Today programme. So I'm used to starting the day with news of one disaster or another, either humatarian, military or political… Read more

Links

Smartphone apps market to peak in 2013
(article from v3)
IP and Ethernet solve mobile backhaul bottlenecks
Story from Ericsson
Make it mobile
Ericsson
Ericsson mobile backhaul
Mobile Backhaul solutions from Ericsson.
Optimising mobile backhaul
from Nokia Siemens Networks
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  • RAN optimisation