FEATURE : FIBRE & FIBRE OPTIC CABLE
DOWN TO THE WIRE
Cabling infrastructure will be vital in the deployment of 5G network. Three industry experts explain why and offer an insight into the factors to consider when it comes to deployment
C JEAN-JACQUES SAGE MIKAEL SANDBERG
abling infrastructure and its role in a 5G future was a hot topic at both the recent OFC and FTTH conferences and exhibitions. Aſterwards
LightCounting released a research note summarising discussions on Wireless Xhaul and FTTH Optics, stating that the 5G revolution has started, although most consumers won’t have noticed.
Te need for high capacity fibre links to
connect an increasing number of 5G cell sites will augment the global rollout of fibre-to- the-home (FTTH) networks in the coming years – with the unification of fixed and mobile networks high on many service provider wishlists. Te top five consumers of optical fibre have been China, South Korea, Japan, India, and the United States, accounting for 80 per cent of overall worldwide demand, according to LightCounting. Tese same five countries are expected to spend more than $700bn collectively building their 5G mobile networks in the next 10 to 15 years. Since 10 to 15 per cent of the overall network cost is in the equipment, this means 5G represents a $70- $100bn opportunity for equipment suppliers, such as Huawei, ZTE, Ericsson, Nokia and others. Te International Telecommunication Union
CRAIG BLACK 20 FiBRE SYSTEMS n Issue 24 n Summer 2019
(ITU) has described several deployment scenarios for 5G, and these were outlined by Huawei during a talk at OFC, to which
LightCounting referred. In Huawei’s view, some early 5G deployments, including Verizon’s, will be for fixed wireless broadband service over millimetre-wave spectrum. Tis will allow mobile operators to compete with the incumbent cable MSO or carrier service provider. Next, said the company, will be 5G-enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), which will provide higher speeds and/or greater capacity, and will be focused on high-end consumers, such as gamers, as well as enterprise/office services. Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communication (URLLC) will be deployed strategically, in areas where a need for URLLC service exists. And finally, according to LightCounting, the last 5G deployment wave will be to provide very broad coverage of 100Mb/s service in support of rural areas and ubiquitous IoT applications. Here, three industry experts from different stages of the supply chain offer views on cabling infrastructure in relation to 5G, and factors to consider when it comes to deployment.
Mikael Sandberg, VXFiber 5G is the talk of the telecoms industry right now, with networks launching in the US and South Korea. But many don’t realise that 5G isn’t possible without fixed high-speed fibre connectivity. According to FTTH Council Europe, nationwide UK fibre penetration, for example, is inadequate. Only 10 per cent of the
www.fibre-systems.com @fibresystemsmag
Credit: OIF
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