Wireless Bypass

Mobile backhaul is the transport of wireless traffic from the cell site to the switch, or mobile tower. As more and more consumers use the internet and download apps from their cell phones, backhaul traffic backs up and slows down service.  This not only aggravates customers, it causes network congestion and overtaxes operators. The solution to this backhaul traffic overload is increasing backhaul capacity. Already, many wireless providers have upped their backhaul capacity. Clearwire is increasing its backhaul capacity 250% or more,T-Mobile USA is upgrading to fiber backhaul, and Verizon Wireless is planning on increasing its backhaul capacity using Verizon Global Wholesale.  The challenge is increasing backhaul capacity without overstepping the budget. Hopefully, advances in wireless technology will eliminate the problems we’ve been seeing with backhaul and create a plausible alternative.  Already, AT&T is planning to try an enhanced fiber-optic backhaul connectivity that will hopefully boost their 3G service and help the development of their future long term evolution devices.

As consumer expectations rise, service providers struggle to meet their needs. We’re always looking for something faster, stronger, and better. Eventually, technology evolution will reach its limit. Though there is still room to improve the mobile backhaul situation, its worrisome that this room for improvement will be short-lived.

Comment RSS - Both comments and pings are currently closed.