LTE is the next step in the technical evolution of 2G/3G networks. It offers superior user experience with simplified technology for the next-generation mobile broadband. The mobile broadband market is rapidly increasing with the growing popularity of smart phones, tablets, high performance application media contents and cloud services.

Skyrocketing traffic volumes and impending 4G/LTE initiatives are creating challenges in network engineering and infrastructure expenses which are driving service providers to evolve their network architectures. Mobile service providers are developing their infrastructures to accommodate new high-bandwidth services and support the increasing traffic demands.

Mobile operators and backhaul transport providers are adopting IP/Ethernet backhaul as the default technology choice to cost effectively scale instead of relying on TDM-based transport networks for LTE backhaul. Due to the fact that 2G and 3G networks have a wider area coverage than LTE, operators plan to deploy microcells, picocells, and femtocells (small cells) in buildings and homes to cover the gaps. The backhaul for these small cells are mostly over the wireline networks rather than the existing macrocell backhaul.

The biggest challenge for mobile network operators is to arrange for small cell traffic to be sent back to the mobile core and mobile packet core. The operators work with building and wireline facilities, then setup the logical pathways back to the LTE core network.  

Mobile Backhaul Switches

The ubiQuoss mobile backhaul solutions are suited to meet the operator’s business objectives and subscriber expectations. The ubiQuoss mobile backhaul solutions, with its layer 2 architecture, provide significant financial and operational advantages over a more complex layer 3 architecture. While offering high scalability, availability and serviceability, layer 2 transport architecture enables service providers to deliver highly available services that are better-suited for delay-sensitive mobile applications such as interactive VoIP and video. Additionally, ubiQuoss offers a wide range of backhaul solutions including Picocell aggregation and LTE backhaul switches.

Backhaul Switch is a Carrier Ethernet switching platform that delivers high efficiency IP based packet traffic, which is typically placed at eNB sites as a DU (Digital Unit) device. It can provide Pseudo Wire Emulation service for TDM traffic, offering legacy data services over IP based network for business service as well as 2G or 3G mobile backhaul infrastructure.