FEATURE: FIBRE & FIBRE OPTIC CABLE In a 5G operator survey published in


2017 by the Telecommunications Industry Association, all mobile operators responded that fibre will be an important or very important backhaul technology for 5G. At the fronthaul, it’s already obvious to use fibre-optic cable (FTTA); fibre-optic cable is, most of the time, a pre-terminated cable. Tis means that the installer has to plug it in at both ends.


Two becomes one However, it only carries data, so power has to be supplied by a different cable that must be cut to length, stripped and terminated, essentially doubling the cost. Connecting all of the antennas for 5G with separate fibre- optic and power cables could be extremely expensive. Hybrid cables (including fibre and power in the same cable) are an option to optimise deployment cost. In line with the ongoing roll-out of 5G trials,


twisted high-frequency cables have grown in popularity as they offer many benefits, including lower costs. Connecting a microwave antenna to the indoor unit through a twisted high-frequency cable benefits the user since, unlike fibre-optic cables, the power and data are combined in one cable. Te same goes for indoor 5G coverage, where high frequency twisted pair cables could be the perfect choice. Te result is that the cost can be cut by half by installing just one cable. Some twisted high-frequency cables, such


THERE’S NO POINT CONTINUING TO SPEND MONEY ON COPPER CABLING


5G will be using up to 60GHz frequencies in the US and Canada, while conventional GSM and LTE networks use frequency


to choose from to transmit traffic between macro and small cell base stations, ranging from wireless (microwave, V-band and E-band frequencies), to fixed (fibre-optic or copper), to satellite technology.


g corner. Its initial impact is predicted to be seen throughout Europe and the US by 2020. Te


only way to fulfil the promise of unmatched Gb/s data rates and near-instantaneous connectivity is through a more dense, smarter cabling infrastructure. To demonstrate the challenges that 5G


presents, a typical 4G macro cell will cover an area of roughly 25km2


could require 20 cells or more to cover 1km2


. On the other hand, 5G .


With more e-Nodes and antennas, an inevitable energy challenge arises. According to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), 5G is expected to deliver up to 1,000 times as much data as today’s mobile networks, but it could also consume up to 1,000 times as much energy. Tis is where power cables will play a crucial role. At the same time, to keep up with


exponentially growing mobile and data volumes, operators have several options


www.fibre-systems.com @fibresystemsmag


Obstacle course It is expected that by the time 5G becomes a reality, more than 95 per cent of mobile data will be consumed indoors. Tis is where the competitive edge of mobile operators is likely to be built. Unfortunately, there is an obstacle to this, as 5G is expected to be assigned a higher radio frequency to transmit more data quicker than existing mobile networks. In fact, it will use up to 60GHz frequencies in the US and Canada, while conventional GSM and LTE networks use a frequency range below 4GHz. But the higher the frequency, the shorter the range. Plus, higher-frequency radio signals are less capable of penetrating obstructions such as walls or metallised insulation – especially with high-tech construction materials used in buildings today. To efficiently transmit the signals and


guarantee a high level of service to users, 5G will require an indoor network of antennas, which will include multiple antennas and small remote units distributed throughout a building and interconnected with cables.


as Category 6A S/FTP products, can be used for both indoor and/or outdoor applications. Tese are oſten the best choice to support applications like Ethernet, fast and Gigabit Ethernet, but also microwave antennas, video networks, outdoor wifi connections and other urban applications where the installation of fibre might be too complicated.


Twist and shout We predict that the popularity of twisted high-frequency cables will increase due to their cost-efficiency and simplicity of installation. Twisted high-frequency cables are resistant to their environment, extremely robust and can be easily terminated by the installer on site. However, despite the benefits that they


bring, twisted high-frequency cables are not the answer for every installation. Teir performance can drop off over long distances, so it is necessary for the installer to use another type of cable if the antenna is too great a distance from the indoor unit, or the antenna will need to be placed in a closer, and potentially inconvenient, location. Small cells in a dense urban environment


will require a huge number of fibre cables. In some cases, installing and laying additional cable will not be possible and alternative technologies, such as microwave, will be the most cost-effective choice. As explained earlier, to connect a microwave antenna to the indoor unit, a carrier has several options available, all of which have their own pros and cons. We believe it is certain that the 5G


revolution promises to transform our modern communication network infrastructure and


Issue 24 n Summer 2019 n FiBRE SYSTEMS 23 g


CityFibre


Nexans


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