It's difficult to predict exactly how the infrastructure of LTE (News - Alert) will look once it's deployed, particularly because there are so many ways to implement the technology and backhaul its nodes. However, as more companies transition to Internet and LTE-based mobile communications, and employ rich communication suite services to enhance their operations, it is becoming increasingly important to find reliable LTE. Implementations cannot be categorized by region, since each type of deployment is optimal for a particular set of circumstances. Throughout the world, we only know one thing for certain: LTE technology will be, at the very least, just as complicated as it was in the United States to deploy.
iGR, a market research firm, conducted a study to affirm what benefits and drawbacks appear in each type of architecture, and what the wireless backhaul for wireless metrocell deployments will look like in North America over the next five years.
“Carriers must provide high-capacity, carrier-grade reliability, peak performance, and sound network management capabilities in the small cell environment. A lot of testing has been done on small cells, both by carriers and OEMs, but so far there is a dearth of real-world experience,” said Iain Gillott, iGR's founder.
iGR's study compares different LTE solutions including PTP, PMP, NLOS, millimeter wave, and traditional microwave. It also teaches carriers how to address the most major concerns regarding wireless backhaul. For those who have experience in fiber backhaul implementations, there's also a comparison between this and wireless backhaul.
Although the study is most relevant to North American carriers, telecommunications companies around the world seeking to refine their understanding of LTE can benefit from its content. Choosing the right deployment solution makes a world of difference when serving customers in places that present less-than-ideal situations for wireless communication and data transfer.
Edited by Alisen Downey