Everyday there are new applications coming to the fore, delivering vital capabilities, and every one of them demands faster internet speeds. Their whole premise is founded on delivering real-time value. They have been built because such speeds exist in the form of 5G.

Users are gung-ho about the emergence and the potential benefits of 5G, but not many are aware of the infrastructure and the transport network that drives 5G and the significance of this network to sustain 5G. At the heart of the ecosystem that is driving faster internet connectivity, lies ethernet backhaul.

Let us take a look at a few statistics. By 2027, a mammoth 60% of global mobile data will be over 5G networks and 9 out of 10 subscriptions will be 5G. We are already witnessing a rise in interconnected, smart devices, but this IoT penetration will increase exponentially as 5G starts replacing 4G as the connectivity of choice. So, it is not just human-centric traffic that is all set to explode, machine-centric traffic will witness a meteoric rise as well.

For businesses, 5G has already started delivering immense value. Its boosting edge computing, augmenting remote work, helping deliver even more engaging and immersive brand experiences, and building ROI-driven consumer connect. We are just skimming the surface in terms of the tangible benefits of deploying 5G connectivity. The advantages are only limited by business imagination.

But there is an elephant in the room – Network. Yes, with network technology primed to deliver 4G connectivity, we are seeing it woefully ill equipped to route data in real time across locations. Challenges abound in the form of capacity, availability, long-distance reach, need for ultralow latency and the ultra-dense nature of the 5G network.

This is where the importance of 5G backhaul comes into play. Network backhaul is a bridge between the core network and its subnetworks. In 5G, the backhaul connects the wired network to the mobile network. The significance of the backhaul cannot be overstated enough as it must support 100s of gigabits of traffic emanating from the core network, as well as supports devices across different bandwidths. If one were to pinpoint the benefits of a powerful backhaul underpinning 5G, we are looking at speed, massive capacity building and high bandwidth are the key. It is not difficult to imagine how these benefits will fuel the smart device or IoT revolution empowered by 5G.

5G technology does not exist in isolation and its rise has resulted in diverse technological changes. Radio Access Network (RAN) is becoming denser, there is a need for advanced network architectures and 5G transport technologies must deal with demanding performance requirements. Operational considerations have changed, but this also means reliability and robustness of existing transport solutions, should be maximised.

Enter ethernet backhaul.

Ethernet Backhaul is Critical To 5G Empowerment

Ethernet Backhaul is a standardised solution for 5G that provides wide coverage both at the city and regional level. The focus of ethernet backhaul is to deliver both flexible and reliable point-to-point and point-to-multipoint services with a focus on traffic prioritisation as per the requirements of the network and end users. Physical connectivity between different sites is delivered through fibre optic cables which ensures reliability and unhindered connectivity.

Think of ethernet backhaul as a traditional backhaul approach that has evolved to meet 5G requirements. It is a tried and tested format that has ably supported 4G and its advanced framework now handles 5G requirements.

The Benefits of Ethernet Backhaul for 5G

• Reliable Scalable Capacity

  The challenge with 5G is that it needs more bandwidth capacity. When 5G adoption picks up speed, backhaul capacity requirements can climb to 10GBE or higher. Ethernet’s capacity to support high capacity backhaul is perfectly placed to deliver on 5G’s high bandwidth requirement and the need to oversee vast amounts of traffic.

• Better Availability

  5G connectivity needs 24x7 availability especially because of the critical IoT systems and machine-centric connections that will be driven by the network. Downtime can disrupt large-scale business processes globally, and this is an understatement. The fallout of non-operational backhaul services in a 5G environment will be tremendous. However, ethernet backhaul has a safety mechanism wherein a path protection mechanism ensures continuity despite interruption. Also, another advantage of ethernet as compared to a wireless network is that it delivers high-performance connectivity even in harsh weather conditions.

• Latency

  When we talk about 5G, we are talking about ultra low latency in the same breath. Therefore, 5G is being touted as the technology that can enhance a truckload of services and environments like healthcare monitoring, online gaming, metaverse etc. Ethernet backhaul delivers the levels of low latency needed and at the same time supports the enormous amount of traffic and complex service needs. There is minimal interference as the fibre optic cables are well connected with one another and can easily withstand the elements.

• Ultradense Network

  Ethernet backhauls are continuously evolving courtesy the constant advancement made in ethernet technology. They are now capable of catering to higher RAN frequencies and dense small cell deployment, which makes them perfectly placed to manage 5G. The ultra-dense and heavy traffic cells in 5G can be seamlessly and reliably connected with the core network irrespective of the demanding nature of 5G in terms of capacity, high availability, latency, and efficiency.

The Importance of the Services Provider

There is no doubt ethernet backhaul is imperative to maximising 5G potential, but this can only happen if you work with a service provider that guarantees unhindered robust transmissions, and assures permanent and sustainable secure connectivity, ideal for high-speed movement of mission critical data. Also, it is important the transmission capacity can scale with your needs, with addition of new bandwidth. What we are talking about is flexible capacity building. Also, 5G is nothing without coverage and the service provider should be able to deliver extensive coverage across your target areas.

To Conclude

There is a power behind the 5G throne, and it is ethernet backhaul. It will be fair to say, the success and failure of your 5G enabled services/solutions depends on the nature and strength of ethernet backhaul. Get this part wrong and your 5G connectivity dreams will go bust. But get it right and you can get the most out of 5G.