Point to multipoint backhaul architecture for 3G/4G networks and small cell deployment

Demand for mobile broadband services is continually increasing, requiring operators to provide more and more capacity from their radio access networks. LTE and small cells can offer a promising solution to provide almost unlimited coverage and capacity. However, backhaul technologies can be expensive in terms of both CAPEX and OPEX, and none of the traditional solutions provides the necessary combination of capacity and cost-efficiency. This paper defines a Q-band point to multipoint backhaul architecture that provides multi-gigabit capacity in a cost-effective manner. Apart from the network architecture, the key nodes comprising the network will be described.