5G Fronthaul Architecture Overview

Watch the recording of this 5G Webinar, part of the Command the Network VIAVI Spring/Summer 2020 educational webinar series.

Watch this webinar to learn how Fifth-Generation wireless (5G) networks are targeting new applications that can drive the additional revenue needed to support the investment. In order to support these new applications, the radios (RUs) are being installed closer to the end users to increase speeds, reduce latency, and support thousands more devices. Because of this, it is expected that the 5G fronthaul portion of the network will be 10 times denser than the 4G/LTE network. This increased densification is driving new fronthaul architectures that favour Cloud-RAN or Centralized Radio Access Network approaches.

This training session discussed the challenges facing these new architectures. Changes to timing and synchronization of the fronthaul network and new uses for GNSS satellite-based synchronization will be discussed. The savings as well as the challenges posed by fronthaul aggregation devices such as Fronthaul Transport Network Multiplexors and Gateways were explored together with the transition from CPRI to eCPRI in order to help the fronthaul network scale. Circuit speeds and test points rounded-up the discussion.

Products used to discuss the areas above included:

The webinar was presented by an international panel of VIAVI subject matter experts: JOE Gomez, Reza Vaez-Ghaemi, Steve Gale & Genis Sanchez