A hybrid approach to the 5G backhaul challenge

Despite recent progress on the path to 5G deployment, backhaul performance is still a major concern. The SANSA project successfully improved it with a hybrid terrestrial-satellite network.

Numerous experts have pointed at the incapacity of current backhaul networks to support the 5G networks that should, as of 2020, enable the Internet of Things. Commonly called the 5G backhaul challenge, this issue arose from the use of the ultra-dense and heavy traffic cells necessary to support the propagation of 5G millimetre wave (mmW) networks. These densified networks have very high requirements related to capacity, latency, availability and energy/cost efficiency, and current backhaul systems are nowhere near fit for purpose.

Further details: A hybrid approach to the 5G backhaul challenge