In 5G networks, fronthaul links the radio equipment to the centralized processing unit with low latency, midhaul aggregates data from multiple cell sites to connect to the core network, and backhaul connects aggregation points to the core network, collectively ensuring high-speed, low-latency communication.
What is difference in 5G between fronthaul midhaul and backhaul?
In 5G networks, the terms “fronthaul,” “midhaul,” and “backhaul” refer to different segments of the network infrastructure that play distinct roles in delivering high-speed, low-latency communication.
Lets See Difference between them:
Fronthaul:
- Fronthaul is the portion of the network that connects the radio equipment (such as antennas and radios) at the cell site to the centralized baseband processing unit (BBU).
- It is designed to have extremely low latency and high bandwidth to support the demanding requirements of 5G, which includes very low latency for applications like autonomous vehicles and augmented reality.
- Fronthaul typically uses high-capacity optical fiber connections to ensure fast and reliable communication between the radios and the BBU.
Midhaul:
- Midhaul serves as an intermediate link between the fronthaul and backhaul segments of the network.
- It connects multiple cell sites or remote radio heads (RRHs) to aggregation points, which then connect to the core network.
- Midhaul is responsible for aggregating traffic from multiple cell sites and ensuring efficient data transfer to the backhaul network.
- It may use a combination of fiber and microwave links, depending on the network architecture and geographical considerations.
Backhaul:
- Backhaul is the network segment that connects aggregation points or midhaul nodes to the core network, which can be quite distant from the cell sites.
- It carries aggregated data traffic from multiple cell sites to the core, where it can be routed to its destination.
- Backhaul typically requires high capacity and reliability because it handles a significant amount of data traffic.
- It commonly uses fiber-optic connections, microwave links, or even satellite links in some cases.
Fronthaul connects radio equipment to the BBU with low latency, midhaul aggregates traffic from multiple cell sites to connect to the core network, and backhaul connects aggregation points to the core network. These segments work together to provide the high-speed and low-latency capabilities that are essential for 5G communication.