Operator Perspective on Next-Generation Optical Access for Future Radio Access

Toward 5G mobile systems for 2020 and beyond, aggressive studies on radio access networks (RANs) are underway. In 5G systems, the role of the small cell based RAN is important to provide 10 Gb/s class broadband and flexible services, and optimization of the optical access network to accommodate small cells is also important. To efficiently deploy and operate small cells, cooperation between mobile and optical access networks is essential. For the fixed network operator side, TDM-PON based mobile backhaul and fronthaul are preferable for its cost effectiveness. In this article, radio access and optical access technologies are briefly introduced, and TDM-PON based optical access techniques for future radio access are described.