Tomorrow’s Backhaul: Analyzing the Backhaul Options for Next Generation Mobile Broadband

Despite forecasted quadratic growth of cellular traffic over the next several years, no in-depth analysis of brownfield and greenfield Long Term Evolution (LTE) backhaul deployment over different local access network options has been published. The models in this dissertation integrate engineering with economic analysis of the backhaul to support LTE mobile broadband network employing Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), cable (DOCSIS), fiber, or microwave networks for the backhaul network. The results of the model allow a cellular provider to determine when to upgrade a network and determine which backhaul solution is the lowest cost depending upon traffic load and spectrum allocation. The model results indicate that the Net Present Value (NPV) do favor fiber passive optical network (PON) with a tree network architecture for a high population density, while for a low population density brownfield DOCSIS is favored. The model also predicts carrier aggregation with fourth generation (4G) and unlicensed frequencies provide enough capacity