‘Network infrastructure needs revolutionising to guarantee a successful 5G connection,’ ECOC 2018 visitors told

If 5G networks are to be utilised and deployed successfully, operators must consider upgrading and redesigning their fronthaul network. This was the stark warning from optical transceiver specialist, ProLabs at ECOC 2018 in Rome.

Speaking at the event, Ambroise Thirion, Technology Solutions specialist at ProLabs, recommended evolving architectures as the key to unlocking 5G’s full potential. “The 5G mobile network is coming and bringing considerable advantages for the consumer, yet the real challenge for telecom operators is deploying it,” he said. “The fifth-generation network will be a revolution and to support the massive bandwidth growth the entire network needs to evolve.

“This evolution needs to happen in terms of micro-cells and pico-cells and ultimately this will require a complete fronthaul network re-design. Service providers will need to take this approach and transition from CPRI to eCPRI, point-to-point / point-to-multipoint topology and RF over fibre. This will handle the expanding growth of 5G network elements comfortably.”

Ambroise Thirion

He explained that 5G is leading the way for a network evolution and is moving wireline and wireless services to coexist onto one single network. This single network will mean more M2M devices, mainly used for IoT applications, can harness its capabilities and reap the benefits further down the line.

His comments follow an announcement earlier this month that 5G trials will be getting underway soon throughout the West Midlands in the UK.

“While this news is a positive step for utilising IoT devices to their full potential, if the groundwork is not in place to support such activity the eventual deployment will be a recipe for disaster.”

He summarised: “Next generation and legacy passive optical network services must evolve over time for an effective and positive rollout. By coexisting with previous architectures such as GPON or EPON, the deployment of new optical networks will easier, quicker, and more cost-efficient.”

Comment on this article below or via Twitter: @IoTNow_OR @jcIoTnow

RECENT ARTICLES

Get a US$50 Amazon voucher for sharing your IoT brand knowledge

Posted on: March 28, 2024

We want to know what you know about the IoT space. Just 3 minutes could earn you a US$50 Amazon digital gift card!

Read more

Enhance EV charging performance with cellular connectivity

Posted on: March 28, 2024

Electric vehicles (EVs) are steadily growing their market share at the expense of internal combustion engine vehicles. The growth is fuelled by several factors. Perhaps most importantly, prices for EVs have started to drop as competition in the industry is intensifying. New players and models are emerging, prompting several established EV makers to lower their

Read more
FEATURED IoT STORIES

What is IoT? A Beginner’s Guide

Posted on: April 5, 2023

What is IoT? IoT, or the Internet of Things, refers to the connection of everyday objects, or “things,” to the internet, allowing them to collect, transmit, and share data. This interconnected network of devices transforms previously “dumb” objects, such as toasters or security cameras, into smart devices that can interact with each other and their

Read more

The IoT Adoption Boom – Everything You Need to Know

Posted on: September 28, 2022

In an age when we seem to go through technology boom after technology boom, it’s hard to imagine one sticking out. However, IoT adoption, or the Internet of Things adoption, is leading the charge to dominate the next decade’s discussion around business IT. Below, we’ll discuss the current boom, what’s driving it, where it’s going,

Read more

9 IoT applications that will change everything

Posted on: September 1, 2021

Whether you are a future-minded CEO, tech-driven CEO or IT leader, you’ve come across the term IoT before. It’s often used alongside superlatives regarding how it will revolutionize the way you work, play, and live. But is it just another buzzword, or is it the as-promised technological holy grail? The truth is that Internet of

Read more

Which IoT Platform 2021? IoT Now Enterprise Buyers’ Guide

Posted on: August 30, 2021

There are several different parts in a complete IoT solution, all of which must work together to get the result needed, write IoT Now Enterprise Buyers’ Guide – Which IoT Platform 2021? authors Robin Duke-Woolley, the CEO and Bill Ingle, a senior analyst, at Beecham Research. Figure 1 shows these parts and, although not all

Read more

CAT-M1 vs NB-IoT – examining the real differences

Posted on: June 21, 2021

As industry players look to provide the next generation of IoT connectivity, two different standards have emerged under release 13 of 3GPP – CAT-M1 and NB-IoT.

Read more

IoT and home automation: What does the future hold?

Posted on: June 10, 2020

Once a dream, home automation using iot is slowly but steadily becoming a part of daily lives around the world. In fact, it is believed that the global market for smart home automation will reach $40 billion by 2020.

Read more

5 challenges still facing the Internet of Things

Posted on: June 3, 2020

The Internet of Things (IoT) has quickly become a huge part of how people live, communicate and do business. All around the world, web-enabled devices are turning our world into a more switched-on place to live.

Read more