DT and Ericsson Top 100Gbps Over Microwave Link

DT and Ericsson Top 100Gbps Over Microwave Link
Ericsson

Ericsson and Deutsche Telekom have achieved a landmark data transmission rate by consistently topping 100 Gbps in a trial microwave link over 1.5km. Conducted at the Deutsche Telekom Service Center in Athens, the joint innovation project represents a major technical breakthrough, achieving more than 10 times greater throughput speeds than current commercial solutions on similar 70/80 GHz millimeter wave spectrum.

“Advanced backhaul solutions will be needed to support high data throughput and enhanced customer experience in the 5G era. This milestone confirms the feasibility of microwave over millimeter wave spectrum as an important extension of our portfolio of high-capacity, high-performance transport options for the 5G era. In addition, it represents a game changing solution for future fronthauling capabilities,“ said Alex Jinsung Choi, SVP Strategy & Technology Innovation, Deutsche Telekom.

“This trial signifies the successful establishment of true fiber capacities over the air using microwave.  This means that microwave will be even more relevant for communications service providers in creating redundant networks as a back-up for fiber, or as a way of closing a fiber ring when fiber is not a viable solution. By carrying such high capacities, microwave further establishes itself as a key transport technology, capable of delivering the performance requirements of 5G,“ said Per Narvinger, Head of Product Area Networks, Ericsson.

Apart from confirming the potential of microwave technology over millimeter-wave spectrum as a 5G-and-beyond fronthaul and backhaul solution, the trial showed the importance of applying spectral efficient techniques, such as MIMO on wireless backhaul technologies to address upcoming 5G radio access demands.