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Published in:
2020 | OriginalPaper | Chapter
31. Digital Optical Front-Haul Technologies and Architectures
Authors : Fabio Cavaliere, David Larrabeiti
Published in: Springer Handbook of Optical Networks
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
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Zusammenfassung
This chapter analyzes the evolution of fronthaul interfaces and networks, based on current standardization activities. Then, since fronthaul networks require, as any transport network, multiplexing and switching technologies, different options are discussed, highlighting their pros and cons and application space: multiplexing at physical layer, both in space (relying on dark fibers) and wavelength domain; circuit multiplexing, with focus on the widespread ITU-T Optical Transport Network standard; and packet switching, where satisfying strict timing constraints and maintaining the benefits of statistical multiplexing at the same time poses new design trade-offs, which are also discussed. The final part of the chapter addresses the evolution of the fronthaul network as a multilayer network that can efficiently exploit all the above multiplexing technologies, compatibly with the split options of the radio protocol stack defined at 3GPP for 5G and the introduction of new packet fronthaul interfaces.