OTN Mobile Fronthaul

Overview

Mobile operators worldwide are evolving their RANs from a distributed to a centralized base station (C-RAN) model as a means to cost-effectively grow mobile capacity and prepare for 5G. The challenge for operators is the need for a high capacity fronthaul network that meets the strict latency and timing requirements of CPRI while also offering a future-proof path to 5G. Conventional passive and WDM solutions exist, but require a substantial number of higher cost / higher power WDM optics and suffer both from a lack of OAM and compatibility with 5G. On the other hand, OTN offers the following benefits:                            
                                                            

• ITU-T Standardized OTN client mapping and multiplexing for converged CPRI (4G) and Ethernet (5G) support
• Eliminates requirement for WDM optics
• Carrier-grade OAM
• Full compatibility with OTN metro transport networks installed worldwide
• Established multi-vendor ecosystem

Until now, OTN has struggled to meet the strict latency and timing requirements of CPRI. With Microsemi’s breakthrough solutions, OTN is now proven to provide sufficiently low latency and jitter to meet 3GPP specifications while multiplexing multiple CPRI and Ethernet signals into a single OTN container. The result is a scalable and cost-effective fronthaul network that is compatible with 4G and 5G. Customers can perform a simple upgrade on their existing designs to rapidly bring OTN mobile fronthaul equipment to market.

Microsemi has two OTN-based mobile fronthaul solutions:

DIGI Mobile Fronthaul Solution Optimized for CPRI Option 5 and 7 into 100G OTU4 Supports CPRI, 10GE, 25GE, 40GE, and 100GE Supports optional link security Based on PM5990 DIGI-G4 and PM5980 DIGI-100GX

HyPHY Mobile Fronthaul Solution Optimized for CPRI Option 3 into 10G OTU2 Supports CPRI 1-5, 100M, GE, and 10GE Supports optional link security Based on PM5450 HyPHY 20Gflex and PM5456 HyPHY 10Gflex