Boosting 5G Through Ethernet: How Evolved Fronthaul Can Take Next-Generation Mobile to the Next Level

Current approaches to the fronthaul for centralized, or cloud, radio access networks (C-RANs) need to be revised to meet the requirements of next-generation mobile networks. There are two major challenges. First, fronthaul signals need to be transported over public fixed-access networks, such as passive optical networks (PONs), typically sharing them with other services. Second, higher data rates must be handled because of larger radio bandwidths and a greater use of multi-antenna techniques, such as massive multiple input, multiple output (MIMO). Using Ethernet as a new transport protocol for the fronthaul allows statistical multiplexing and enables convergence between fixed and mobile services.