Smart FiWi-HetNets: Recent progress and open challenges

FiWi access networks comprise conventional RoF networks, which are well suited for traditional cellular networks that rely on centralized control. However, the explosion of mobile data traffic has mandated the need for a new cellular architecture, which will demand high-capacity, low-latency backhaul links for the efficient coordination of transmission and reception among multiple base stations in LTE-A HetNets. In this paper, we report on our recent progress on distributed backhaul-aware load balancing in FiWi enhanced LTE-A HetNets and elaborate on the design goals of our envisioned smart FiWi-HetNets in support of emerging smart grid and co-existent sensor M2M applications.