Backhaul Networks and TV White Spaces (TVWS) with Implementation Challenges in 5G: A Review

Abstract

Mobile Backhauling provides interface between radio controller and base stations mostly realized with physical medium such as optical fibers or microwave radio links. With the huge mobile traffic due to increase in mobile subscribers as well as deployment of 4G and 5G cellular network technologies, better solutions for capacity and coverage should be provided in order to enhance spectral efficiency. For 4G cellular networks, mobile backhaul networks deals with capacity, availability, deployment cost and long-distance reaches. In addition, mobile backhaul networks based on 5G network incurs additional challenges that include 1 ms or less ultralow latency time requirements and ultra-dense nature of the network capabilities. Therefore, for 5G technologies, latency delay, QoS, packet efficiency, noise suppression and mitigation techniques, efficient modulation schemes and packet network timing synchronization are some aspects which are to be dealt with while designing efficient backhaul approaches (wired/wireless). Current backhaul systems typically uses cost-effective solutions (e.g. -Wi-Fi and WiMAX) based packet switched technologies especially Ethernet/Internet technologies and high speed optical fiber links. In this survey, a comprehensive study of state-of-the-art regarding advancement in 5G based backhaul technologies based on research articles and standard documents is presents. The main features, research findings as well as requirements and challenges related to recent emerging backhaul technologies of 5G networks are also discussed. TV band white space (TVWS) backhaul as a possible solution is suggested as a cost effective way in rural technology growth in regards to 5G infrastructure.