It all comes back to backhaul – solutions supporting superior end-to-end quality of experience (QoE) for heterogeneous network (hetnet) deployments

Backhaul plays a critical role in mobile broadband, and is rising in importance on account of the introduction of heterogeneous networks, known as hetnets. Deploying vast numbers of small cells to complement improved and densified macrocell layers will require a range of highly scalable, flexible mobile backhaul solutions that support superior user experience.

Knowledge and experience of matching the capacity and performance requirements of mobile-broadband radio networks with the appropriate backhaul resources is relatively well developed. With the arrival of small cells on the scene, backhaul requirements are once again in the spotlight. Overall, the backhaul should not limit the radio access network and should have sufficient end-to-end performance to meet the desired user quality of experience (QoE) everywhere. This is valid for backhaul of mobile networks today, and will be equally important for backhaul in both the macro and micro layers of a heterogeneous network – hetnet – in the future.

The introduction of heterogeneous networks (hetnets) will increase the number of radio nodes greatly. Backhaul, as a consequence, is crucial in a heterogeneous network (hetnet) scenario, as it constitutes a much larger share of the total cost of ownership.