Introduction

Satellite VSAT systems are in use today for backhauling 2G & 3G networks. They are typically used when there are no other suitable backhaul options (like fi ber or p2p/p2mp microwave) in very remote situations, for ‘connecting the unconnected’ scenarios.

However, this ‘backhaul of last resort’ thinking is chan-ging and there are many new market opportunities for 4G LTE networks with Satellite backhaul, with new and diverse use cases. This is partly due to evolutions in satellite like HTS (High Throughput Satellites) and ad-vanced modulation/coding, off ering higher speeds and more cost-eff ective $/bps.

It is also a result of 4G LTE product and system evoluti-on, where low power yet high performance small cells, fl exible software based core networks and new spec-trum licensing enables a new type of LTE network, with ensuing new business models and market potential.

4G LTE Network Evolution

2G, 3G and traditional 4G LTE networks are typically owned and operated by the big Mobile Network Ope-rators (MNO), providing national coverage & internati-onal roaming; so called ‘Public LTE Networks’.

In the evolution to 4G, the core network (EPC - Evol-ved Packet Core) became an All-IP architecture that is now also available as a software-only solution running on commodity computers. As well as the big & expen-sive (Macro eNB) cell towers, there are new generations

of ‘Small Cells eNBs’ that are typically used to connect small rural communities, add better indoor coverage and increase capacity in dense urban environments, in a complementary heterogeneous (HetNet) architecture. A key aspect of small cells is that they are easy to install and manage (including features like SON – Self Optimi-zing Networks), yet can retain the carrier-grade relia-bility, leading to lower OPEX as well as reduced initial CAPEX.

Since 2G/3G networks, additional frequencies have become standardized and operational, supplying extra bandwidth for more users with higher speed Internet connections.

With 4G/5G this increases signifi cantly, as does the avai-lability of a lot of this spectrum as license-free or lightly licensed, for private and semi-private use. One notable example of this is 3.5 GHz (where bands 42/43 are beco-ming next-gen ‘IMT - International Roaming’ and in the US, where band 48 for CBRS is re-defi ning spectrum al-location & resultant business models).

Additional & Flexible Spectrum

The combination of these factors is enabling a new business model: ‘Private LTE Networks’

• New spectrum as license-free or lightly licensed, for private and semi-private use.• Outdoor small cell eNBs: Cheap to buy, install & operate. Low power but high performance and carrier-grade reliability.• Software based EPCs and edge technologies, virtualization capable (NFV/SDN).• A wide range of user equipment (UE) with SIM cards (not only smartphones).

Operated by smaller service providers, for diff erent mar-kets and applications, private LTE networks are being used, due to better transmission and interference per-formance and economic quantities of scale, where pre-viously WiFi or WiMAX was considered.The use cases for these new networks range from provi-ding rural ‘Fixed Wireless Access (FWA)’ to networks for emergency services, disaster recovery, remote industrial sites like off shore wind farms, the ‘wireless last mile’ for FTTx and HFC networks and many more verticals.

Private 4G LTE Networks

Macro Cell

Small Cell

Coverage

+

Capacity

Macro Cell

Small Cell

Increased Capacity Extended Coverage

Coverage&

Capacity

3G

2G

4G

900MHz - 1800MHz - 850MHz - 1900MHz

800MHz - 850MHz - 900MHz1700MHz - 1900MHz - 2100MHz

More More More

EDGEto 200 kb/s

GPRS50-114 kb/s

GSMVoice/SMS

HSPA+42 Mb/s

LTE100 Mb/s

HEPA14,4 Mb/s

WCDMA384 kb/s

Year

2010

2000

Longer range,less capacityCoverage

bands

Capacitybands

5G sub 6 GHz

5G mmWave

More capacity,shorter range

Frequency

300MHz

1GHz

3,5GHz

5GHz3,5Ghz: Capacity/Coverage ‘Sweet Spot’LTE-TDD bands 42/43: Future IMTUS CRBS band 48Next-gen 5G Global Roaming

4G LTE Network Evolution

2G, 3G and traditional 4G LTE networks are typically owned and operated by the big Mobile Network Ope-rators (MNO), providing national coverage & internati-onal roaming; so called ‘Public LTE Networks’.

In the evolution to 4G, the core network (EPC - Evol-ved Packet Core) became an All-IP architecture that is now also available as a software-only solution running on commodity computers. As well as the big & expen-sive (Macro eNB) cell towers, there are new generations

4G LTE Network Evolution

2G, 3G and traditional 4G LTE networks are typically owned and operated by the big Mobile Network Ope-

Satellite VSAT Backhaul for Private LTE Networks

Where fi ber can be used as the backhaul, it will be. As well as using microwave links from small cells back to ‘donor’ Macro cells where there is fi ber. 4G networks provide a lot of bandwidth and hence require good backhaul. The evolution to High Throughput Satellites (HTS) both provides that bandwidth and at a considerably smaller OPEX ($/bps) than previous satellite generations.

The key opportunities lie in the remote & rural regions, where satellites have always made sense, combining the following to give a ‘sweet spot’ for business potential:

Hughes HT2200Newtec MDM2210Gilat GeminiIDirect X1, X5

Hughes dTdM/AISIDirect Adaptive TDMANewtec Mx-DMAGilat 16QAM/LDPCComtech VersaFEC/dSCPC

Remotes/ModemsSat Return Technologies

SPEED&

COST

TDMA

SCPC4G LTE Backhaulhughes HT2500/2600Newtec MDM3310Gilat CapricomiDirect X7-EC, iQComtech CDM-840Viasat 2240

Private LTEEPC

VSATHub

RemoteTerminal

ODU IDU

Small CellLTE eNB

POE 50WGigabit Ethernet

HTS Spot BeamKu & Ka Bands

LTE FWA ‘Last Mile’100Mbit/s, 64 Users

Residential SOHOMulti Dwelling

Private LTE Network over Satellite VSAT

Solar/Wind + Batteryfor Rural & Remote

Integraded Solution O�ering

Company PositioningURL

VSATSystem

Remote/Modem Throughput HTS Capable Mobile Focus LTE RAN

Optimizer Public LTE Private LTE

Hughesgoo.gl/wHgnp2 JUPITER HT2500

HT2600200Mbps down,

50Mbps up 3G/4G GTP

compression

iDirectgoo.gl/5cdnxj iDirect

VelocityX7-EC, iQ 150Mbps down,

20Mbps up 2G/3G/4G SatHaul

ROHCv2LZ4

newtecgoo.gl/2KzUax Newtec

DialogMDM3310 100Mbps down,

25Mbps up 2G/3G/4G ? (ext

ROHC)

Gilat

goo.gl/gm8G2w Skyedge II-cX-arch

CellEdgeSDR

Capricom 200Mbps down,100Mbps up

2G/3G/4G GTPaccelleration

Comtechgoo.gl/u8mtJA Advanced VSAT CDM-840

MemotecCX-U

2G/3GE1 RAN

CX-U

Viasatgoo.gl/9dV8c2 Cellular Network

Extension System2240 60Mbps down,

20Mbps up 2G/3G

Advantechgoo.gl/9KqQTi ASAT II

WaveSwitchU9000 300Mbps down,

75Mbps up LTE/5G,MEC GTP

• HTS spot beam Satellite (Ku or Ka bands)

• Latest satellite mid-range modulation/coding (between TDMA & SCPC) and terminals/remotes to provide up to 100 Mbit/s backhaul, typically with VLAN support.

• Low-power outdoor LTE small cell (a 250mW small cell can have a range of multiple kms and up to 64 users & 100+ Mbit/s, for a 50W Power over Ethernet).

• Software Private LTE Network (fl exible virtual NFV/ SDN capable).

• For remote ‘power challenged’ locations, a solar/wind + battery powered integrated solution can be off ered

Optimizing the Satellite LTE Backhaul

It is already well understood that specifi c optimiza-tions of satellite backhaul improve the market fi t for 2G/3G networks.

For 4G LTE the system context is as follows:The bulk of any backhaul network traffi c is the user plane that is transferred via the S1-U interface. This is tunneled (GTP-U) from the eNB to the EPC.

When satellite is used to extend existing 4G LTE networks to remote areas, the EPC is typically already installed and any optimizations have to be made without any EPC modifi cations, according to the 3GPP TS 36.323.

This compresses the headers, reducing the required backhaul bandwidth but does not actually accelerate the user traffi c in the GTP-U tunnel. Some proprietary solutions, target lower computational resource usage or acceleration of the GTP user traffi c.

When deploying private LTE networks, the software EPC and fl exible small cell eNBs actually provide additional architectural options for optimizing and accelerating the satellite backhaul.

For small & medium networks, the whole or part of the EPC can be run in the eNB itself (so called ‘LTE network in a box’, as network functions become virtualized). This results in unencrypted user IP traffi c being sent over the VSAT link, which allows existing VSAT TCP/HTTP PEP functionality to accelerate this traffi c, leading to better user experience and mitigation of satellite delay. Addi-tionally, it enables faster (intra-MME) handovers, local IP breakout ,etc. without traversing/using the backhaul.

Optimization of Public LTE BackhaulAcceleration of Private LTE Backhaul

LTE Network Overview

EPCEvolved Packet Core

RANRadio Access Network

LTE RAT4G Radio Access

Technology

UEUser Equipment

E-UTRAN Node BeNB/eNodeB

Core

SGi

P-GW

S-GW

S5/S8

S1-U GTP-U TunneleNB to P-GW(S1-U/S5/S8)

S6a

S11

S1-MME

Uu

HSS

MME

ControlPlane

UserPlane

L2

L1L3

eNBAccelleran

PDCP

MAC

GTP-U

RLC

LTE PHY

S1AP

Call Control

RRC

x2 Accelleran eNB

eNBAccelleran

Compressed GTP-UPublic LTE Networkover Satellite VSAT

Backhaul

VSAT Hub

VSAT Remote

CoreCore

GTP-U adaptor

GTP-U adaptor

SGi SGi

P-GW

S-GW

S5/S8

S1-UGTP-U TunneleNB to P-GW

GTP-U Header CompressorReduction in backhaul BWbut no payload acceleration.Examples: PDCP, ROHCv2

S6a

S11

S1-MME

P-GW

S-GW

Uu

ControlPlane

UserPlane

L2

L1L3

eNBAccelleran

PDCP

MAC

GTP-U

RLC

LTE PHY

S1AP

Call Control

RRC

Accelerated GTP-UPrivate LTE Networkover Satellite VSAT

Backhaul

VSAT Hub

VSAT Remote

Core Core

SGi SGi = IP

P-GW

S-GW

S5/S8

S1-UGTP-U TunneleNB to P-GW

HSS & GUIHSS would be in eNB forsmall deployments controlled via GUI in Hub. HSS in EPC for larger deployments.

Local eNB GTP-U TunnelAllow use of satelliteTCP-HTTP accelerators on non unencrypted IP tra�c over SGi.

S6a

S11

S1-MME

P-GW

S-GW

L2

S11S1-MMES1-U

L1 L3

PDCP

MACRLC

LTE PHY

SON

Call Control

P-GW

S-GW MME

HSS

HSS GUI

HSS

RRC

Uu

ControlPlane

UserPlane

L2

L1L3

eNBAccelleran

PDCP

MAC

GTP-U

RLC

LTE PHY

S1AP

Call Control

RRC

Uu

Plane

L2

L1

PDCP

MAC

GTP-U

RLC

LTE PHY

Control

RRC

Future Proofi ng for 5G

Conclusions

The trends of network function virtualization and soft-ware defi ned networking (NFV/SDN but also initiatives like TIP ‘Telecom Infra Project’ and M-CORD) will be-come even more prevalent in the evolution towards 5G.

The divergent 5G use cases will lead to many diff erent network architectures and business models, beyond just the public/private options of 4G LTE networks.

5G networks will support being sliced into multiple vir-tual networks supporting, among others, ‘neutral host’ deployments for smart cities, disrupting the business of being a network operator and solution provider. Flexible private LTE network solutions, with the resultant deve-lopment of partnerships and ecosystems, will provide an ideal pathway for business planning towards 5G.

Satellite VSAT systems, running on HTS bandwidth, can provide attractive new business opportunities for backhauling private LTE networks.

This combination, when done correctly (including use of Accelleran carrier-grade, fl exible and cost-optimized small cell software solutions and integrated eNB pro-ducts), can open new market verticals and disrupt the value chain. With the right partnerships (of satellite, mo-bile and operator stakeholders), integration of best of

breed products and combined way to market, there is some good business to be had.The Accelleran small cell product line, combined with roadmap and market vision, is the perfect match to HTS VSAT networks for providing cost-eff ective remote access and enabling new market verticals. Contact us to discuss more together.

Specifi cationsSingle Cell – 2x2 MIMO

24dBm (250mW) per portIntegrated GNSS

PoE - 56V DC, <21W

Dimensions 270mm(L) x 200mm(W) x 65mm(H)

2.8 Kg. IP67. Up to 64 active users

Accelleran’s Local Area Outdoor “E1000 Series” eNB

About AccelleranAccelleran is a Belgium-based provider of 4G & 5G RAN control plane software and integrated small cells.

We provide Urban, Enterprise, Rural and Remote 4G Small Cells for Fixed Wireless and Mobile access, enabling deployments from sparse coverage-constrained to capacity-boosting ultra-dense HetNet environments. We offer single cell and next-generation multi-carrier/multi-cell so-lutions which include support for the new worldwide 3.5GHz mobi-le capacity band and US CBRS.

Accelleran NV | Quellinstraat 49 - 2018 Antwerp, Belgium | accelleran.com