1. Microwave/Millimetre wave transport opportunities on the way to 5G
Paolo Di Prisco
Mobile Networks – Head of Microwave Product Strategy
Today I‘ll share our vision regarding 5G network evolution and how uW/mmW transport opportunities can overcome some of the challenges for massive 5G deployment

2. Network shift towards 5G
RAN decomposition and Cloud shift
RAN functions over multiple platforms (PNF and VNF) and higher interconnectivity due to new topologies  new X-Haul interfaces and X-Haul convergence
Shift to edge cloud and central office/datacenter-like architecture  more complex interconnect
New services
Throughput increase (eMBB driven)
up to x10
10/25Gbps F1/BH
Nx25Gbps eCPRI
Ultra-low latency down to 1ms E2E
High reliability >99.999%
Cloud RAN
Edge Cloud
Edge Cloud
D-RAN
Edge cloud
Packet core, IMS,
Analytics
DISTRIBUTED
CENTRALIZED
Network densification
High user density (> 150,000 subs/km2) implying increased connectivity between BTS sites with different X-Haul variants
Connectivity will keep evolving overtime: cell-sites transport connectivity will require to be more flexible and dynamic
Network Slicing and Automation
New service types will demand increased granularity for e2e SLAs and automated traffic engineering
Transport pipes setup should be automated and be programmable in order to dynamically adapt
Small cells/RRHs
We know 5G is not just an incremental step in network performance, but a more deep transformation (still targeting an evolution on top of 4G).
It will enable New services : eMBB / augmented reality / mission critical… and this traffic mix will need different availability requirements. This is also related to MW transport techniques I will explain later in the deck. Also it has also much to do with network slicing…
There will be also more sites which means more connectivity, which has also implications on the transport resources. For instance as typical deployment we could have macro cells acting as pooling site as well for small cells which are in its coverage
Another trend (already well explained) is RAN decomposition also with virtual functions and new X-Haul interfaces – Centralization for some functions driven by optimization gains and decentralization for other functions driven by low latency (as an example) might appear conflicting but there could be tradeoffs (also considering TCO of fronthaul vs midhaul).
And last but not least, with such apparent complexity it will be key to have Automation capabilities for granular e2e traffic engineering (also to satisfy the very granular SLAs through network slicing)
Bottom line all of this will imply having a much more flexible and programmable multi-technology x-haul transport
A much more flexible and programmable multi-technology x-haul transport will be needed

3. Wireless Transport Market trends
New x-Haul interfaces
Data Capacity
Full Outdoor
Millimetre Wave
With this kind of network architecture evolution (Multiple 10Gbps+ interfaces, more interconnections, nodal…) there will be also more opportunities for MW/mmW transport, also because fiber cannot be at every site.
We are part of a number of 5G trials and we didn’t found yet a Tier1 operator saying they don’t need MW for 5G, it’s more the contrary. Fiber grid might not be exactly the one needed for cell site deployment and also not incumbent operators cannot afford fiber leasing.
In this presentation we’ll explore some of these opportunities and how MW is evolving in order to satisfy these demanding requirements.
Let’s see now which are some of the trends we are already seeing today in the MW evolution
New X-Haul, including Midhaul and fronthaul
More and more data capacity dominated by video: Mobile data traffic exceeded 100 PB per day in China and India
Full outdoor  which recalls site optimization
Shift to higher frequencies (coherent with densification)
* Source: Analysis Mason / ABI / Dell’Oro forecast

4. 5G deployment scenarios
Typical wireless backhaul / F1 needs
Up to 2 Gbps
More than 7-10 km
Up to 5-10 Gbps
Up to 7-10 km
10/10+ Gbps
Less than 1km
5G deployment scenarios
mmWave (26/28/39 GHz) layer
Ultra-dense urban
Hot spots like airports and stadiums
= 26/28/39 GHz
= 3.x GHz
= Below 1GHz
Sub6 (e.g. 3.x GHz) layer
Urban/Suburban coverage
< 1GHz layer
Rural scenario for coverage
5G scenarios vs geo deployment (to simplify) and correlation with wireless transport needs
Different requirements for transport
Macro vs small cells
I’ll come back to that, but first…

5. Technology evolution – Path to 100Gbps Spectrum opportunities
GHz
Bandwidth / Channels
Capacity
Latency
Antennas
New
mmW
Bands
D-Band
100
Gbps
170
32GHz 123x250MHz
<10us
Flat -Active – Ultra-compact
W-Band
FLAT
ACTIVE
115 92
E-Band 20
Gbps
Millimeter
Waves 80
5+5GHz 38x250MHz
10us
1-2ft - Flat – Compact
V-Band 60 38 5
Gbps
Microwave
Traditional
Bands
32GHz 32
1GHz 8x112MHz
50us
≥1ft – Classical 25 23 18 15 13 11 10
..let me share which are the opportunity provided by spectrum..
Some bands indicated as example (not the only ones)
MW still important for high reliability
Spectrum opportunities: new bands / large channels (32 vs 26 replacement) Eband D-band 123 channels (fDD)
2 things are key in this spectrum evolution:
- how we exploit at maximum the spectrum resource (and combine it) for its characteristics
- how spectrum is regulated
7/8 6
Sub6 5 3

6. THE tool for wireless transport evolution
Carrier Aggregation
THE tool for wireless transport evolution
Today state of the art:
GHz
New
mmW
Bands
D-Band
170
32GHz 123x250MHz
mmWave + mmWave
E-band 2+0
15Gbps
115 92
E-Band
Millimeter
Waves 80
GHz E-band
Up to 10Gbps 60
uWave mmWave 38
32GHz 32
Microwave
Traditional
Bands 25 23
uWave + uWave
N+0 Long Haul
1-5 Gbps
15/23GHz 18 15 13 11
6/11GHz 10
7/8
Challenges : improving more and more capacity and reach / TCO so better integration / better spectrum exploitation….
We believe CA can be THE main tool (of course leveraging on radio technology evolution)…
- what is: CA is…
- Explain WHY is the tool. Value of carrier aggregation to be explained – availability capacity link distance…… 3 use cases
This matches what I’ve shown in first slide (new services with different requirements in the same network)
Could also be used for x-haul convergence!!!!!
CA types and state of the art
Also 5.8Ghz where possible (unlicensed) 6
Sub6 5 3
Carrier Aggregation provides higher capacity and longer links preserving high availability thanks to lower band

7. Carrier aggregation evolution
Today
Future
E-band 2+0
15Gbps
Urban boost
E-band + D-band
Up to 100Gbps >1 km
GHz E-band
3+0 – Up to 10Gbps
Sub Urban extender
New combinations
>10km
Rural extender
New combinations
Higher integration
Up to 40km
N+0 Long Haul
1-5 Gbps
Further enhance the possible solutions operator can exploit
Value of single dual band antennas for TCO and operations

8. uWave Carrier aggregation evolution Macro backhaul - Rural
Low
uWave band
High
uWave band
Radios and antennas
for multi Gbps
long distance
Carrier Aggregation
addressing TCO and OPEX
CA with 6-11GHz / 32 / 38 GHz
Single band: Median from ITU Report 173
(2ft antenna – Rain 60mm/h)
Challenge to bring 5G in remote areas – 10G are not required in this case…
Average distance on 23GHz vs distance we can achieve in CA
new life to existing bands (for instance 32 GHz used for urban and for rural  frequency reuse)
1 o 2 radios  towards ultra-wide band
Challenge which drive single antenna design

9. Beyond 100GHz mmWave What is enabling
uWave
V-band
E-band
W-band
D-band ( GHz)
Capacity
Innovative configurations
Multiple small antennas
Tx/Rx Tx Rx
D-band opportunities and technological advancements
Less footprint / lower consumption per Mbps / Gbps !  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Licensing important to enable evolution
Multiple 10Gbps streams
Flexible duplex
MIMO and Mesh

10. Zoom on 5G high capacity transport
Ultra-dense network
Zoom on 5G high capacity transport
Remote Macro-sector/small cells
Sub-6GHz RRH and Small cells
5G massive MIMO 
 Fronthaul (eCPRI) Point to Point
Small Cells low power deployment
SUB-6GHz
4G/5G Small cells low power street level
26/28/39 GHz
Small-cells Backhaul / F1
 PtP / PtMP / Mesh through beamsteering
Millimeter-wave Wireless deployment
26/28/39 GHz
Backhaul / F1
 PtP / PtMP / Mesh
Challenges (NLOS, connectivity for last mile, key to define QoS vs traffic pipe steps, pole sway…)
Mesh, CA, beamsteering
Fronthaul connected to macro or fiber poP

11. 5G deployment scenarios
mmWave (26/28/39 GHz) layer
Ultra-dense urban
Hot spots like airports and stadiums
= 26/28/39 GHz
Rural extender
Sub Urban extender
Urban boost
E-Band
10/10+ Gbps
Less than 1km
= 3.x GHz OR
D-band
= Below 1GHz
Sub6 (e.g. 3.x GHz) layer
Urban/Suburban coverage
E-Band
Up to 5-10 Gbps
Up to 7-10 km OR
32GHz(e.g.)
< 1GHz layer
Rural scenario for coverage
1-2 Gbps
More than 7-10 km
We come back to the deployment use cases trying to map the current and future wireless transport options
6/11GHz OR

12. Summary
Cloud RAN
Carrier Aggregation, wideband and High mmWave technologies to cover wireless transport evolution
needs depending on deployment scenario
and RAN functional split
Edge Cloud
Edge Cloud
D-RAN
Edge cloud
Packet core, IMS,
Analytics
DISTRIBUTED
CENTRALIZED
Small cells/RRHs
E2E network automation, traffic engineering and service provisioning (SDN)
So to summarize: I’ve shared main evolution trends and some tools to answer to this network evolution shift on wireless transport side, mainly the carrier aggregation
This adapts to different deployment scenarios (from rural to ultra-dense urban), to different x-haul options and of course need to leverage on technological enhancements that are on the way like high mmWave and antenna and radio design
Functional splits: X-haul convergence
not only radio but also networking (even if we didn’t go through) - so automation (therefore SDN) are key for network slicing and traffic steering
As we said at the beginning, bottom line all of this will imply having a much more flexible and programmable x-haul transport, and the wireless technology is evolving to satisfy that need.

13. Customer confidential