Backhaul is key to the success of any service provider and more so in the case of 5G where the speeds are ultra-high, and latency is ultra-low. However, existing backhaul networks cannot support the needs and requirements of 5G as they were built for a different generation of mobile technology.

5G is poised to revolutionise the way businesses generate, share, and process data. Be they IoT networks or connected vehicles or automated factories or remote healthcare or streaming media, companies across industries will generate and transmit unprecedented quantities of data at speeds and latency never seen before. And all this data would have to be transmitted over vast distances and processed either at the edge or in the cloud equally quickly.

This deluge of data at unprecedented speeds and demanding ultra-low latency is poised to add a tremendous amount of pressure on the backhaul networks of service providers. The existing backhaul set up, which are optimised to meet 4G requirements, are unlikely to meet the demands generated by 5G and will need a rapid overhaul for mobile operators to effectively roll out their 5G services.

The Importance of Backhaul

Backhaul performance, capacity, and reliability are integral to meeting the transport demands of mobile networks as the increasing volume of data needs to be transported from the radio access network (RAN) to the core of a mobile network. This critical link between cell tower location and network core is a central component of a wireless network infrastructure.

However, with each new generation of mobile technology, the pressure on backhaul networks increases tremendously as there’s a quantum leap in data speeds and volume. A backhaul that’s not up to the mark can cause packet loss, high latency, and carrier jitter among other problems for mobile operators, thus severely compromising quality of service and customer experience.

As a result, building an efficient backhaul is critical for 5G service providers to enable high speeds, large capacities, and open up high bandwidth at low latency for numerous connected devices.

5G Impact on Backhaul

5G will have a significant impact on backhaul networks of mobile operators. According to GSMA, mobile traffic is estimated to increase to 6,268 exabytes (1 EB equals 1 billion GB) annually by 2027 in the top 30 markets, with 5G accounting for 83% of total traffic by the end of the period.

As one 5G end-user can conceivably consume as much wireless capacity as 10 or more 4G LTE users, the impact of 5G on backhaul networks will be unlike any previous generation of mobile technology. A diversity of use cases, Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO), and network slicing are some of the key factors influencing backhaul for 5G.

Facilitated by network slicing, 5G supports three main categories of 5G use cases—enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), massive Machine-Type Communications (mMTC), and ultra-reliable Low-Latency Communications (urLLC). And each of these use cases add their own different type of pressure—from high-speed bandwidth to ultra-low latency—on the backhaul networks.

As a result, at peak throughput and download speeds of up to 10Gbps, exponentially higher data loads must be “backhauled” from infinitely more locations at ever faster rates at ever decreasing latency.

Way forward

The backhaul network is commonly Ethernet-based (carrying IP payloads), but can also be dark fibre, or microwave and millimetre wave-based wireless. Each backhaul technology has its merits and its place, meaning a mix of all will be used for 5G.

Packet-based Ethernet supports backhaul for 5G effectively. Bit rates and link distances have increased through the introduction of fibre-based Ethernet, and bandwidth limitations have been alleviated. But an Ethernet-based infrastructure may not be available for every location that an operator needs to connect.

At the same time microwave and millimetre wave-based backhaul has been taking significant technological leaps forward and has been ready to support 5G for some time. All its enhanced capabilities are now coming into play as 5G is switched on at an incredible pace. It is mainly used when high-speed wireline connectivity to telecom sites (typically via Ethernet-based fibre optic connectivity) is unavailable and when rapid deployment is required. However, since spectrum is a finite precious resource, getting the required spectrum can be a challenge and be expensive.

Dark fibre is when operators deploy their own optic fibre infrastructure or lease unused (dark) fibre from a third party that already owns the infrastructure to connect their RAN to the core mobile network. However, laying their own fibre infrastructure can be expensive or the fibre may not be readily available when leasing from a third-party.

Mobile operators will have to use a judicious mix of all the different options for their backhaul network depending on cost, efficiency, performance, and use case.

The Ideal Backhaul Solution

Hence, while rolling out 5G-based services—be they for IoT networks or connected vehicles or automated factories or remote healthcare or streaming media—service providers, including OTT players and other industry specific service providers, need to make sure their backhaul is able to support their demands imposed by 5G. Service providers will need to improvise their network capacity to cater to an even greater surge in bandwidth demand.

TM Global provides comprehensive backhaul solutions over Ethernet to meet all the demands of service providers. With a wide and comprehensive network, TM Global’s Ethernet-based backhaul solutions provide more bandwidth and better quality of service with higher degrees of flexibility and better scalability.

TM Global’s comprehensive wholesale ethernet-based backhaul solutions are developed to fulfil the backhaul requirements of all service providers. It provides end-to-end transport of voice and data traffic according to a specific quality of service that is specifically geared towards meeting 5G requirements.

It offers a cost-effective solution and allows the service providers to focus on their core competence and business, specifically addressing the customers’ needs. With enhanced performance and objective parameters in line with industry standards that are tailored for backhaul application, TM Global’s Ethernet-based backhaul solutions are suitable for all service providers offering 5G-based services, irrespective of whether they are mobile operators or OTT players or those offering industry specific solutions.

5G helps unlock business value and further drives enterprises on the path of transformation that started with 4G. This change will be driven by enhanced latency, reliability, bandwidth, capacity, and efficiency, all of which are the hallmarks of 5G. The promise of fibre-fast speeds allows enterprises to think out-of-the-box and identify opportunities for business growth driven by technology innovation, building better inter-system synergies and delivering immersive customer experiences.

It's important that we do not see 5G purely from the prism of extremely high internet speed but think of it as an agent of change that will fuel the evolution of enterprise network architecture.

78% of businesses believe 5G will help unlock new business opportunities and 77% think it will result in productivity gains. The question is why? The answer lies in the capabilities of 5G.

5G Capabilities that Drive Digital Transformation

Enterprise businesses are typically technologically advanced, and their systems and processes keep in step with business growth. Here are some 5G capabilities that have the potential to transform the way enterprise organizations function, and also their products and services:

High Speed: This 5th generation mobile network can deliver speeds between 10 to 20 Gbps, which makes it around 100 times faster than 4G technology. Faster data transfer ensures real-time data sharing that is the bedrock of intelligent systems, which accelerate results-oriented decision making.

Bigger Capacity: 5G can handle extremely high traffic demands, meaning huge amounts of data can be transferred seamlessly, without network connectivity issues. This enables the delivery of bleeding-edge user experiences; it also allows enterprises to leverage next-gen deployment models and make available powerful services.

Higher Density: The rise of IoT and increased reliance across enterprise businesses on connected devices means there is tremendous burden on traditional networks, which simply cannot handle the sheer number of devices working concurrently. 5G has the potential to empower an estimated 1 million devices per square kilometre. Data can be transferred at the same time with the same network, doing away with the need for multiple networks.

Low Latency: The defining capability of 5G is its low latency coupled with high reliability. This is of critical importance in applications where every second counts, zero lag is of paramount importance, and which demand consistent availability of network services.

The Benefits of 5G

The benefits of underpinning services and solutions with the power of 5G are many and varied. And, if truth be told, we have just got started on making optimum use of 5G in an enterprise scenario.

From the manufacturing perspective, 5G can leverage real time machine data that can help manufacturers optimize production workflows. The key here is improved and real time data that improves productivity, efficiency and reduces wastage of resources – personnel, material, time and money.

It also impacts supply chain management as manufacturers get more visibility into the different aspects of their supply chain, and are able to monitor and control the supply chain better with Big Data intelligence. 5G can also enhance the reliability of IoT, wherein manufacturing systems can talk to one another, thus enabling automation, and driving the remote control of huge industrial spaces. Over a period of time, we are going to see more trust in the reliability of IoT, courtesy 5G.

5G also facilitates better customer experiences. Again, it’s the fast connectivity that allows enterprises to build immersive applications that can help them connect better with their customers. We are talking about getting in front of customers, when they want a business’s services most. Think about making use of the metaverse to sell products, AR empowered retail applications, and much more.

Healthcare is another domain wherein 5G can make its mark and started doing so. The pandemic put a lot of pressure on existing medical systems and a realization that traditional approach to healthcare won’t be enough. We saw an uptick in telemedicine, but it was rife with problems because of unreliable speed and connectivity issues. The robustness of telehealth is an outcome of faster internet speeds, availability, and capacity. Three qualities that 5G can bring to healthcare. Information can be sent and received quickly and connected medical systems can ensure the right advice and treatment options are made available on the fly and remotely.

This is just the start.

Advanced procedures like robotic surgery which demand extremely low latency can now be popularly leveraged for across-the-globe surgeries. A doctor sitting out of Malaysia can conduct surgeries for patients in the United States. The key pillar of successful robotic surgery is not just the technological capability of the surgical systems but also clearer video resolution, video streaming and information transfer. Everything should happen in real-time, without lag. 5G is making this possible and large hospitals can now offer their services across the globe, without having a large footprint in the form of infrastructure and staff.

Educational institutes can also benefit from 5G wherein their teachers can provide academic services remotely. We have seen online learning pick up steam during the pandemic, and one of the biggest complaints was inconsistent speeds and resource availability, which together impacted the learning process. With 5G and the advantage of reliable and fast speeds, fostering ideal teacher-student connect becomes easy.

Another area where 5G is set to offer huge dividends is autonomous driving. One of the features of 5G architecture is network slicing wherein, a single wireless network can be divided into different network levels. Each level is used for a specific function. This hugely benefits automated driving, because you have just one data highway to pass information to onboard systems, whether safety related, infotainment or any other.

Again, it would be wise to repeat that we have just begun scratching the surface of 5G, and how its capabilities will drive improvements across sectors, in the enterprise space. As the sectoral penetration of 5G improves, its applicability will increase, and we will find enterprises using this technology in newer and more innovative ways.

5G Demands Robust Support

No technology exists in isolation, and this is true for 5G as well. You need robust 5G backhaul to connect the wired network to the mobile network. Whether it is manufacturing, healthcare, education or any other industry, a stable network backhaul is critical for managing the huge amounts of traffic and the bandwidth support that is needed across devices.

With ethernet backhaul you benefit from a standard backhaul solution for 5G that delivers wide area coverage and much needed flexibility and reliability when it comes to point-to-point and point-to-multipoint services. If enterprises want to benefit from 5G they cannot ignore the nature of backhaul that will support their reliance on 5G. Not doing so will be immensely counterproductive.

TM Global - A 5G Network Enabler Focusing on Nation Building

TM Global seeks to leverage the immense potential of 5G to facilitate digital transformation and fuel Malaysia’s growth across diverse sectors. The company aims to become a trusted wholesale infrastructure provider and 5G enabler by fuelling Malaysia’s digital blueprint enabled through continuous support for JENDELA and MYDIGITAL. It also seeks to provide extensive coverage for 4G and 5G deployment in Malaysia and expand nationwide broadband coverage. By the end of 2022, we have revitalise the domestic content and IP services ecosystem with total of 62 TMiX nodes deployed, each facility specifically designed to be closer to the customer for better user experience. This has the capacity to increase peering and interconnect across Malaysia and strengthen the internet ecosystem in the country.

A wide range of potential Edge Computing use cases can be enabled or enhanced by bringing computing, data storage and processing and AI/analytics closer to the end user. By pushing computing out closer to these locations, users benefit from faster, more reliable services, while companies benefit from the flexibility and scalability of hybrid cloud computing.

So what are the applications and use cases that make Edge Computing real?

Media

Over-the-top (OTT) media services are increasingly relying on Edge Computing to enhance their live and on-demand streams. OTT media services need to guarantee a low-latency, high-performance experience not just with their video stream but the additional features as well, from advertising to interactive features complementing the stream, all at a massive scale. The bulk of the computing for many of these features can take place on the end-user device, so there is no need to send every bit of data back to a central server for processing.

Building Tiered Architecture

Edge Computing is a crucial component of a tiered architecture. It is designed to be near the data source, allowing direct interaction with applications in a low latency design. The proximity allows for the deployment of data directly to end users, driving a better, more connected experience. In today’s always-on, remote culture, real-time nearby data access and application deployment are key to maintaining successful interpersonal connections.

Edge Gaming

One of Edge Computing’s key benefits is enhancing performance by placing code and content closer to the user. Typically, gamers play across networks involving distant cloud installations, accruing the latency that comes with longer distances. Low latency is extremely important for video game players and eSports. When workloads run at the Edge of the network (instead of being sent to a few centralised locations for processing), data need only to travel the minimum necessary distance, reducing associated lag time and enabling more interactive and immersive in-game experiences. Furthermore, game providers also have a substantial financial incentive to offer their games on the Edge. Gaming content providers usually pay high fees to provide their games through gaming consoles. If they can offer the same game on the Edge, they can reduce their distribution cost significantly.

Content Delivery

The original Edge Computing use case. Content delivery can be vastly improved by caching content – music, video stream, or web pages – at the Edge. Edge caching provides a massive improvement over traditional web servers, providing latency on the order of single milliseconds. Content providers are looking to distribute CDNs even more widely to the Edge, thus guaranteeing flexibility and customisation on the network depending on user traffic demands.

Hyperscalers Need an Edge Too

In this heightened, high-stakes business environment, hyperscalers also need to bring their storage and compute infrastructure closer to end users to lower network costs and improve the performance of their products for the customers in the regions in which they are deployed. Doing so means that those providers that deploy their services as close to their end users as possible can gain an edge over their competitors from the improved performance and increased quality of experience resulting from the lower latency accessible through Edge Computing.

Improving digital experiences

As consumer expectations continue to rise and the need for 24/7 access to information becomes the standard, Edge Computing is used to drive faster, more secure digital experiences for end-users across industries of all kinds. Data at the Edge improves the experience for everything from video downloads, to AI or machine learning, to putting crucial medical data into a doctor’s hands faster.

Wrapping Up

Our worlds are all interconnected, seeing access to greater capabilities at faster speeds every day. These are just a few of the use cases of Edge Computing that demonstrate how it is fueling digital transformation across many industry verticals and functions it supports.

Of course, the many benefits of edge computing come with some additional complexity in terms of scale, interoperability and manageability.

Edge deployments often extend to many locations with minimal (or no) IT staff or that vary in physical and environmental conditions. Edge stacks also often mix and match a combination of hardware and software elements from different vendors. Highly distributed edge architectures can become challenging to manage as infrastructure scales out to hundreds or thousands of locations.

TM Edge portfolio addresses these challenges by helping organisations standardise on modern hybrid cloud infrastructure, providing an interoperable, scalable and contemporary edge computing platform that combines the flexibility and extensibility of open source with the power of a rapidly growing partner ecosystem.

TM Edge portfolio allows organisations to build and manage applications across hybrid, multi-cloud, and Edge locations, increasing app innovation, speeding up deployment and updating and improving overall efficiency.