“5G: Small Cells and Mobile Backhaul” Markets, Technologies and Applications

“5G: Small Cells and Mobile Backhaul” Markets, Technologies and Applications

Practel is following the small cells development from the beginning of their commercialization and contributed several technical/marketing reports on this subject.

This report updates previous studies as well as adds the new information. The report presents in detailed and in easily understandable terms independent, unbiased analysis, which reflects progress in small cells and their backhauls solutions developments. Through vendors’ interviews and the analysis of other multiple data sources, the report provides latest, accurate marketing and technical information.

In particular, the report analyzing dynamically evolving small cells technologies, concentrating on their advantages, varieties and specifics. Major applications are presented; and standardization developments are emphasized. Based on the in-depth industry analysis of multiple studies and interviews with vendors, market prognoses (2023-2027) are presented. The survey of more than thirty-five small cell equipment vendors and their portfolios are also provided. It is shown that 4G mobile technologies (concurrent with 5G) will concentrate on building HetNets in which small cells play an important role.

The report emphasizes that the small cells backhaul solution may prove or break the small cell business case. Specifics of small cells backhauls, their varieties and differences from macro cells backhauls are analyzed in details. The need for standardization is emphasized. The study of industry trends, interviews with vendors and the analysis of publicly available statistical data helped to perform the marketing analysis. The survey of vendors (about 30 manufacturers of small cells backhaul solutions) reflects this industry specifics and trends. There is a range of use cases for open access small cells, from targeted demand hotspots in city centers, through generalized capacity uplift, to serving not-spots in remote rural areas. In each case the emphasis on backhaul requirements shifts and aspects that are critical to one type of deployment can be relaxed in others. Solutions with different characteristics will address the needs of different types of small cells backhaul in different areas.

Fiber and microwave are complementary technologies with different use cases. Microwave backhaul allows for a faster and more cost-efficient rollout compared with fiber while fiber offers greater capacities. In a positive development, more countries have been making the E-band available for microwave backhaul.

Microwave is the preferred solution for long-distance transfers. It is also the better choice in countries where regulatory problems complicate fiber rollouts, such as India or Egypt.

Attachments contain the in-depth analysis of prevailing small cell microwave and Wi-Fi backhaul solutions:

1. 60 GHz technologies (V-band). Both Ethernet radio and 802.11ad/802.11ay solutions are addressed. Marketing and technical specifics are described in details. The survey of vendors is also provided.
2. 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5). The technology supports throughput, range and other characteristics that satisfy small cell backhaul requirements. Authors analyzed specifics of Wi-Fi 5 as they relate to the small cell backhaul application; they also analyzed the market and vendors’ portfolios.
3. 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) – is also detailed.
4. 802.11be (Wi-Fi 7) – is introduced.
5. E-band radio. Popularity of this radio for discussed applications is growing; and this trend will be even more pronounced in the 5G era.

Wireless backhauls for SCs are prevailing now and it is expected that they will keep this leadership position in future.

This report provides SCs and their backhaul solutions technological and marketing analysis. It can be useful for service providers, vendors, network operators and managers, Enterprise IT staff, investors and end users seeking to gain a deeper understanding of the SC developmental trends in the mobile industry.

The end users will gain a more thorough understanding of technologies and their capabilities as well as economics.

The report also surveys patents related to Wi-Fi 6 and 802.11ay standards.