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a small amount of bandwidth for TDM control and synchronization traffic, the TDM timing distribution is kept in place while the rest of the network can evolve to packet transport. Network disruption is eliminated with no need for a rip and replace, and upgrade costs are kept under control.
RA DIO PA TH VA RIA BIL I TY A ND A VA IL A BIL ITY Fiber, Wireline and microwave links all support binary availability - they can be either up or down and
optional link or ring protection mechanisms may be put in place to increase availability as needed. However, microwave networks have a distinct advantage in that they can be engineered to deal with non-binary operational states as a result of radio path fading, mostly due to weather or environmental related impairments. Under these conditions, advanced microwave systems are engineered to operate under multiple states of network availability e.g. 99.999%, 99.99% etc. and can invoke various mechanisms to respond to changes in the state of availability. Advanced microwave networks are now available with adaptive coding and modulation (ACM) mechanisms that can apply different modulations, e.g. QPSK, 64-QAM, 256-QAM etc., to deliver the highest available capacity across a radio path based on network conditions at a particular point in time. As synchronization traffic is critical to the operation of the mobile network, it is important that it receives the highest prioritization under all conditions of microwave transport and/or ACM state changes. An advanced microwave system provides efficient mechanisms for dealing with radio path variability and the resulting available throughput, and can ensure that timing traffic is prioritized under all conditions.
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Operators are taking advantage of hybrid microwave systems which allow them to maintain a single T1/E1 channel for synchronization over the TDM transport. Microwave tree topologies can easily accumulate dedicated TDM channels, but advanced distribution techniques are now available to minimize the bandwidth allocated. Instead of a dedicated T1/E1 circuit per destination, a single root circuit is used throughout the network for all destinations.
Cell Sites
Synchronous Ethernet (SyncE) - This approach is projected to grow the fastest over the next three years. Synchronous Ethernet is a Layer 1 approach used to propagate frequency timing across Ethernet networks by having clocks within each node logically interconnected to the master clock in the CO.
Figure 1: Preferred Ethernet Synchronization For complete end-to-end timing support, every intervening Options For Base Station Backhaul (Heavy node (radio terminal, switch or router) in the backhaul Reading, March 2011) chain must support SyncE. Timing signals must propagate from incoming Ethernet ports to outgoing Ethernet ports to ensure high synchronization accuracy and delivery. Next gen switches and advanced microwave systems support SyncE, but older generation devices may break the chain if they cannot extract the clocking signal, clean and distribute to its downsteam neighbor.
Interoperability among node equipment is especially critical for SyncE deployment in mobile backhaul since such networks are often deployed in a mixed environment of microwave and Wireline (fiber and copper) technologies. Since microwave systems are often the last mile connection terminating at the cell site, they are the also the last link in the SyncE chain to connect to the base station. Precision Time Protocol PTP (IEEE 1588v2) - Layer 2 approach where dedicated timing packets are transmitted within the data packet stream to maintain a Master-Slave synchronization relationship. Time stamped PTP packets are sent from the Master clock to Slave clocks, and from the Slave clocks back to the Master. Clock delay and delay variation across the network are constantly checked, especially for heavily loaded networks. Operators can overlay PTP timing over a hybrid combination of microwave, copper and packet optical backhaul networks - essentially bookending the PTP at packet entry and exit points. In this approach, networks deploy a small number of PTP master clocks in their core or aggregation hubs which then communicate to slave clocks either at the cell site, or embedded in the basestation itself optional boundary or transparent clocks may also be used to extend the range of the PTP network when needed. In this unaware state, networks do not have to rely on underlying physical network to support highly accurate clocking at all node points.
Satellite-based (e.g. GPS) synchronization - An overlay solution that is independent of the underlying topology, notably with additional expenses for extra antenna and cabling. Distant fourth in interest with network operators, especially limited with regard to network migration to all-IP, who have more cost-effective solutions available.
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SUMMARY
In summary, synchronization will continue to be an important consideration for mobile backhaul evolution and deployments over the next few years as operators evaluate the most commonly available options including TDM, SyncE and PTP. Microwave will continue to dominate mobile backhaul deployments for years to come. Microwave does pose some unique challenges, but also provides significant advantages for timing deployment and migration. Regardless of which synchronization technology option is chosen, microwave can and is being utilized by operators globally for effective timing delivery, especially in applications which demand a heterogeneous mix of TDM and packet backhaul in parallel. Advanced microwave systems can provide the ability to efficiently and effectively interwork them, delivering highly accurate clocking distribution and often reducing the need for dedicated stand alone clocks in an operators network, or reducing the cost of dedicated leased lines. Aviat Networks is engaged with other mobile backhaul industry experts to ensure operators can successfully deploy and evolve synchronization over packet based microwave networks both today and well into the future. For example, Aviat recently participated in an industry first multivendor demonstration to validate SyncE performance over a combination of microwave, fiber and copper backhaul technologies. Aviat also recently completed extensive multivendor testing of PTP (1588v2) over multi-hop and complex microwave configurations, to validate the performance of this key synchronization solution in practical deployment topologies. Feel free to contact your local Aviat Networks representative to learn more about these and other related tests, or to help you in planning your synchronization evolution.
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