This application example illustrates how a backhaul service provider can wholesale backhaul capacity to multiple Wireless Carriers over one strand of fiber. In this cell tower backhaul example, three Wireless Carriers are transporting different circuits and generations of services:

Wireless Carrier 1 requires connectivity for eight T1s (2G)

Wireless Carrier 2 requires connectivity for sixteen T1s and Gigabit Ethernet (3G)

Wireless Carrier 3 requires connectivity for a Carrier Ethernet circuit (4G/LTE)

Co-Location of Wireless Carriers CWDM

The CWDM backhaul link is transporting three individual wavelengths, one for each Wireless Carrier. The Service Provider (tower owner) is using an iConverter CWDM/X 4-Channel MUX to multiplex/de-multiplex the three wavelengths. Each wavelength transports a circuit that is connected to the Wireless Carriers’ equipment located in different cabinets, wall mounts or rack configurations.

Wireless Carrier 1 is using a CWDM wavelength to transport 2G backhaul with eight T1 circuits (aggregated over Gigabit Ethernet). The CWDM MUX connects to the CWDM SFP port in the iConverter T1/E1 MUX, which provides copper connectivity for eight T1s to the tower.

Wireless Carrier 2 is using another CWDM wavelength to transport 3G backhaul with up to sixteen aggregated T1 circuits and Gigabit Ethernet. The CWDM MUX connects to the CWDM SFP port in the T1/E1 MUX, which provides copper connectivity for sixteen T1s and Wireless Ethernet to the tower.

Wireless Carrier 3 using the third CWDM wavelength to transport 4G/LTE Carrier Ethernet with 1588 synchronization and Service OAM with performance monitoring and fault management. The fiber connects to the CWDM SFP port on the Network Interface Device (NID), which provides fiber connectivity to the tower.

At the other end of the cell tower backhaul link, a similar set of equipment mirrors the configuration shown at the tower, and provides connectivity to the Radio Network Controller (RNC) at the backhaul Service Provider’s facility.

This application illustrates how iConverter CWDM multiplexers, T1/E1 Multiplexers and Ethernet Network Interface Devices enable a backhaul Service Provider to provide connectivity for multiple Wireless Carriers to a cell tower, and allow each Carrier to deliver a different type of backhaul circuit.

iConverter CWDM Multiplexers provide connectivity for multiple Wireless Carriers to the cell tower over a single strand of fiber.

  • Up to 16 different wavelengths over the backhaul link
  • Each wavelength is an independent service or circuit with a capacity of up to 10 Gigabits
  • One wavelength can transport multiple T1s (T1 multiplexed via an Ethernet circuit with a T1/E1 MUX)
  • Connect to multiple Carriers’ equipment in different cabinet, wall mount or rack configurations