xHaul: Towards an Integrated 5G Transport Network Architecture

This event is hosted by Digital Catapult but delivered by the CW Enhanced Mobile Broadband SIG.

The paradigm shift towards RAN virtualisation and the disaggregation of the RAN functional components creates a new xHaul concept (including fronthaul, mid-haul and backhaul). The fronthaul requirements for the transport network are significantly more stringent, including higher data rates, reliability, low latency, and synchronisation compared to the backhaul. During this event, we will discuss the reality and vision for xHaul transport networks to utilise heterogeneous transmission links, such as fibre or wireless to interconnect remote radios, data centres for edge compute processing and the mobile core networks.

13:30 – Registration and Networking with Refreshments
14:00 – Introduction to CW and UK5G
14:10 – A Word From Our Sponsor – ADVA
14:15 – Introduction to xHaul and The Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) Group
Roberto Kompany, Principal Analyst, Omdia
14:25 – xHaul Technology and Economics
Andy Sutton, Principal Network Architect, BT
14:45 – Q&A
14:50 – Open RAN Implementations in Sonic Lab: Lessons Learnt
Dr Dritan Kaleshi, Director of Technology – 5G, Digital Catapult
15:10 – Q&A
15:15 – Refreshments and Networking, with a Tour of the Future Networks Lab
15:45 – Title TBC
Anthony Magee, Director – Business Development, ADVA
16:05 – Q&A
16:10 – Title TBC
Simon Fletcher, CTO, Real Wireless and CSO, Small Cell Forum
16:30 – Q&A
16:35 – Panel Session chaired by Caroline Gabriel, Rethink Technology Research and Analysys Mason
17:05 – Event Wrap-Up
17:15 – Event Close