CBNL Pushes Multipoint Backhaul To 1Gbps Per Sector

As cellcos' requirement for microwave backhaul mushrooms, they are investigating a wide range of approaches, allowing them to explore new frequency bands or deployment economics. Point-to-multipoint, millimeter wave and even free space optics are on the agenda alongside conventional solutions. Cambridge Broadband Networks (CBNL) specializes in the first of these, and has announced its 10Gbps platform, the VectaStar Radio Controller (RC).

Focal Points:

• The RC is a native Ethernet hub within the VectaStar family. It currently doubles per-sector performance to 300Mbps, with planned upgrades this year to deliver 600Mbps and 1Gbps. The RC can control up to eight VectaStar sectors and aggregate traffic from up to 240 remote terminals in a single 1U hub, supporting dense but flexible backhaul networks. It promises seven times the performance of current multipoint microwave platforms.
• "According to Cisco, mobile data traffic nearly tripled in 2010 but until now operators have been stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to backhauling that traffic," said CEO Graham Peel. For many cell sites, and especially among CBNL's heartland customer base in emerging markets, fiber is too expensive or unobtainable, and many microwave solutions do not handle peak demand.
• Peel argues: "Our point-to-multipoint platform architecture is inherently efficient, both in the way it manages mobile data, and in its use of human and capital resources. Those elements combine to create the industry's most cost effective mobile backhaul and access platform."
• The RC is based on a Gigabit Ethernet backplane supporting up to 10Gbps sustained operation and is software upgradable to future performance enhancements and network standards.

Editor’s Note: It looks like the Obama administrative plan to expand Broadband across the US came at the right time. While demand for wireless and internet services increases geometrically, the capabilities of the carrier’s infrastructure are being taxed. Technological advances like the one presented in this article are making the “vision” probable.

However, the amount of money earmarked for this effort (overall) will have to be primarily funded by the private sector. In addition, the ability of the carriers to put this technology where they need it will take some time.