Fiber- vs. Microwave-based 5G Transport: a Total Cost of Ownership Analysis

Answering a key question from operators, the paper compares the techno-economic performance of fiber and microwave-based 5G transport deployments using vendor’s inventories and real-life field deployment scenarios. Results highlight how microwave gains vary based on the geo-types, the fiber trenching, and microwave equipment costs

Cost-Effective Delay-Constrained Optical Fronthaul Design for 5G and Beyond

With the rapid growth of the telecom sector heading towards 5G and 6G and the emergence of high-bandwidth and time-sensitive applications, mobile network operators (MNOs) are driven to plan their networks to meet these new requirements in a cost-effective manner. The cloud radio access network (CRAN) has been presented as a promising architecture that can decrease capital expenditures (Capex) and operating expenditures (Opex) and improve network performance. The fronthaul (FH) is a part of the network that links the remote radio head (RRH) to the baseband unit (BBU); these links need high-capacity and low latency connections necessitating costeffective implementation. On the other hand, the transport delay and FH deployment costs increase if the BBU is not placed in an appropriate location. In this paper, we propose an integer linear program (ILP) that simultaneously optimizes BBU and FH deployment resulting in minimal capital expenditures (Capex). Simulations are run to compare the performance of star and tree topologies with the varying line of sight probabilities (LoS) and delay thresholds. We consider fiber-optic (FO) and free-space optics (FSO) technologies as FH for the CRAN. Finally, we provide an analysis of Opex and the total costs of ownership (TCO), i.e., a technoeconomic analysis

Techno-economic assessment of 5G infrastructure sharing business models in rural areas

How cost-efficient are potential infrastructure sharing business models for the 5G era (and beyond)? This significant question needs to be addressed if we are to deliver universal affordable broadband in line with Target 9.1 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Although almost two-thirds of the global population is now connected, many users still lack access to high-speed and reliable broadband connectivity. Indeed, some of the largest connectivity issues are associated with those living in areas of low economic viability. Consequently, this assessment evaluates the cost implications of different infrastructure sharing business models using a techno-economic assessment framework. The results indicate that a rural 5G neutral host network (NHN) strategy helps to reduce total cost between 10 and 50% compared with other sharing strategies. We also find that, compared to a baseline strategy with No Sharing, the net present value of rural 5G sharing strategies can earn between 30 and 90% more profit. The network upgrades to 5G using various sharing strategies are most sensitive to changes in the average revenue per user, the adoption rate, and the amount of existing site infrastructure. For example, the results from this study show that a 20% variation in demand revenue is estimated to increase the net present value of the sharing strategies by 2–5 times compared to the No Sharing strategy. Similarly, a 10% increase in existing infrastructure lowers the net present value by 8–30%. The infrastructure sharing strategies outlined in this study have the potential to enhance network viability while bridging the digital divide in remote and rural locations

Συγκριτική παρουσίαση των τεχνολογιών 5G και WiFi 6.0

Τα τελευταία χρόνια, μεγάλη σημασία έχει δοθεί στην πέμπτη γενιά ασύρματης ευρυζωνικής συνδεσιμότητας γνωστής ως 5G, η οποία υπόσχεται μια σημαντική αναβάθμιση στη ποιότητα και στη χωρητικότητα των κινητών ευρυζωνικών υπηρεσιών αλλά και ένα γενικότερο τεχνολογικό άλμα με τη παροχή μιας πληθώρας νέων δυνατοτήτων. Παραδόξως, έχει δοθεί λιγότερη προσοχή στο Wi-Fi 6, το νέο πρότυπο 802.11ax της IEEE στην οικογένεια τεχνολογιών ασύρματου τοπικού δικτύου, με χαρακτηριστικά που στοχεύουν στα ιδιωτικά, ακραία δίκτυα, υποστηρίζοντας υψηλές ταχύτητες, χαμηλή καθυστέρηση και χαμηλή ενεργειακή κατανάλωση. Αυτή η εργασία εξετάζει την καταλληλότητα των κυψελωτών και των Wi-Fi δικτύων στην παροχή υψηλής ταχύτητας ασύρματης σύνδεσης στο διαδίκτυο. Και οι δύο τεχνολογίες φιλοδοξούν να προσφέρουν σημαντικά βελτιωμένη απόδοση, πολύ πιο γρήγορη ασύρματη ευρυζωνική σύνδεση και περαιτέρω υποστήριξη για το διαδίκτυο των πραγμάτων (IoT) και τις επικοινωνίες τύπου μηχανής, τοποθετώντας τις ως τεχνικά υποκατάστατες σε πολλά σενάρια χρήσης. Και οι δύο είναι πιθανό να διαδραματίσουν σημαντικό ρόλο στο μέλλον και ταυτόχρονα να αξιοποιηθούν ως ανταγωνιστικές και συμπληρωματικές τεχνολογίες. Το 5G αναμένεται να παραμείνει η προτιμώμενη τεχνολογία για την κάλυψη μιας ευρείας περιοχής, ενώ η τεχνολογία Wi-Fi θα παραμείνει κυρίαρχη για εσωτερική χρήση, χάρη στο πολύ χαμηλότερο κόστος ανάπτυξης. Ωστόσο, τα παραδοσιακά όρια που διέκριναν τις προηγούμενες γενιές κινητών και Wi-Fi δικτύων θολώνουν, με τη παρουσία πλέον αυτών των δυο τεχνολογιών να συμβάλει στην επίτευξη του στόχου της παροχής προσιτών, αξιόπιστων, και αδιάλειπτων ασύρματων ευρυζωνικών συνδέσεων υψηλής χωρητικότητας.In recent years, significant attention has been directed toward the fifth generation of wireless broadband connectivity known as ‘5G’, currently being deployed by Mobile Network Operators. 5G promises a significant upgrade in the quality and capacity of mobile broadband services but also a more general technological leap by providing a plethora of new capabilities Surprisingly, there has been considerably less attention paid to ‘Wi-Fi 6’, the new IEEE 802.1ax standard in the family of Wireless Local Area Network technologies with features targeting private, edge-networks, supporting high speeds, low latency and low energy consumption. This work revisits the suitability of cellular and Wi-Fi in delivering high-speed wireless Internet connectivity. Both technologies aspire to deliver significantly enhanced performance, enabling each to deliver much faster wireless broadband connectivity, and provide further support for the Internet of Things and Machine-toMachine communications, positioning the two technologies as technical substitutes in many usage scenarios. We conclude that both are likely to play important roles in the future, and simultaneously serve as competitors and complements. 5G is anticipated to remain the preferred technology for wide-area coverage, while Wi-Fi 6 will remain the preferred technology for indoor use, thanks to its much lower deployment costs. However, the traditional boundaries that differentiated earlier generations of cellular and Wi-Fi are blurring. The presence of both technologies should contribute to achieving the goal of providing affordable, reliable, and seamless high-bandwidth wireless broadband connections