Monitoring systems and remote powering for next generation broadband Access Networks

Future high capacity of the 5G radio environment will boost transport networks to be adapted. The high bandwidth, together with stringent delay and jitter requirements, make dedicated optical connectivity a preferred solution for fronthaul. Those Radio Access Networks (RAN) apart from higher capacity and lower latency should have higher energy efficiency. Reliability becomes also critical as each Remote Radio Head (RRH) may connect several mobile users. Therefore, preventive and in-service remote fiber monitoring solutions are needed in order to timely detect and locate faults to shorten the service downtime. Meanwhile power over fiber can provide flexibility to those solutions while improving costs in those cases where RRH should be deployed in places lacking external power supply in order to fulfill the desired coverage. Different monitoring and remote powering techniques will be presented.