What Is Backhaul? How to Develop a Robust Network Backbone (2024)

A decade ago, nobody could have imagined that buffering would become a distant dream or that something like 5G and wireless fiber networks would put unparalleled internet speed at the heart of our daily lives. Staying connected wherever we go is no longer a fantasy; it’s almost mundane.

But as the demand for seamless connectivity grows, have you ever wondered what technology makes it all possible? The answer is backhaul.

Backhaul carries large volumes of data from the edge of the network to the central infrastructure, where it’s processed, analyzed, and further distributed to regional networks.

Simply put, we can’t access the internet without it.

Software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) solutions improve the efficiency of backhaul operations by intelligently routing network traffic and choosing the most appropriate path for data transfer. These solutions optimize the use of backhaul links and reduce latency across a wide area network (WAN).

How does backhaul work?

The internet executes data exchange between a device (like a smartphone) and a source (an application or website). This process happens through network segments such as the access and core networks.

Think of the access network as the base station that connects end devices to the web. The core network stores and directs the data to other sub-networks. Everything that connects the access network to the core network is backhaul.

Its main functionality involves delivering the generated data at the edge of the network to its intended destination with minimal delay. It paves a robust network path that supports the increasing demands of data-intensive applications and services.

Here’s how it happens, briefly.

• Generation and aggregation of data. At the edge of the network layer, devices like cellular towers and Wi-Fi hotspots generate data through user interactions and other sources like sensors. This data is then aggregated through a local machine that collects information from multiple sources.
• Data transmission. The aggregated data is then sent across the backhaul network. The backhaul network can be wired or wireless depending on the bandwidth, distance, and network topology.
• Data traffic management. To ensure an optimized flow and efficient use of network resources, backhaul routes the data through intermediate nodes that direct it along the most efficient way to its destination.
• Core network infrastructure. When the transmitted data reaches the central network, it goes through stages like analysis, integration, or routing to other servers, depending on the need.
• Two-way communication. When the core network processes the data, it generates the appropriate feedback and sends it back to the edge device.

Fast and reliable data communication is only possible through a capable backhaul infrastructure. Bandwidth, latency, and network congestion have to be optimized to ensure a smooth connection through backhaul links.

Types of backhaul

Backhaul technology is most commonly deployed to a mobile network. Mobile backhaul boosts the data exchange between base stations and mobile devices by connecting cell sites to network infrastructure. This goal relies on two main approaches, namely wired and wireless backhaul.

An example of a wired backhaul system is a smartphone or tablet connected to a Wi-Fi router using an ethernet cable. The router connects the device to the internet using a data line. But if we connect the device to a long-term evolution (LTE) network or a 5G network, it can access the internet through a wireless backhaul connection.

Wired backhaul

Wired backhaul uses physical cables to transmit data, providing high bandwidth, low latency, and increased connectivity. Three examples are here below.

• Fiber backhaul uses fiber-optic cables for sharing data. Because of its high bandwidth and low latency, fiber backhaul is ideal for data-intensive applications and heavy data traffic networks. It’s widely used to bring reliable connectivity in densely populated urban and suburban areas.
• Copper backhaul relies on traditional copper cables like twisted pair cables for communication. It offers moderate bandwidth and is mainly found in older telecommunication networks that haven’t completed fiber-optic deployment yet.
• Ethernet backhaul needs ethernet cables like coaxial or twisted pair copper cables to provide connectivity. Residential, enterprise, and campus networks commonly use broadband connections. It offers good bandwidth and efficiently dispatches data over short distances.

Wireless backhaul

Wireless backhaul uses wireless technology to move data between network nodes. Take a look at some examples.

• Satellite backhaul depends on communication satellites to send data over longer distances. It’s especially useful for remote areas with limited terrestrial infrastructure. While satellite backhaul has limited bandwidth, it offers broad coverage and higher latency than wired backhaul. Satellite backhaul also helps network operators supply consistent voice and data services.
• Microwave backhaul uses microwave radio signals, common in remote sites where deploying a wired connection isn’t cost-effective. It’s suitable for point-to-point and point-to-multipoint connections spread over medium to long distances. By 2027, microwave backhaul will account for 65% of the global backhaul market share.
• Wi-Fi backhaul uses Wi-Fi technology to connect network devices and facilitate data transfer. It expands network coverage for areas without wired infrastructure and supports temporary or mobile network setups. A mesh network, for instance, connects multiple access points to create a unified network, enabling uninterrupted coverage.

Backhaul vs. fronthaul

Backhaul and fronthaul are different parts of network architecture. They’re essential to telecommunication and simplify data exchange between parts of a network to maintain connectivity. But they have some key differences in how they work.

As mentioned above, backhaul focuses on establishing connectivity between the access network, which is close to the end users, and the core network. It’s spread across longer distances and plays a critical role in streaming data traffic.

Fronthaul, on the other hand, focuses on transmitting data between a baseband unit (BBU) and remote radio unit (RRU) in a distributed radio access network (D-RAN) architecture. Fronthaul connectivity is usually for shorter distances since it operates in a localized radio access network.

The main difference between backhaul and fronthaul is where in the network they deploy their technology. Backhaul connects mobile networks to wired networks, and fronthaul connects the remote cell sites to the BBU.

Backhaul use cases

The worldwide rollout of the 5G network and the increased consumption of mobile video content are currently the primary sources of demand for backhaul network services. This rising demand has resulted in the need for highly stable connections.

Check out some of the most common backhaul applications in today’s digital world.

Supporting mobile networking

The primary function of connecting cell towers to the central network makes backhaul an essential component of mobile networks. Backhaul enables the movement of voice and data traffic from mobile divides to main networks, resulting in smooth connectivity and internet access. It supports applications like real-time online gaming, video streaming, and voice and video calling.

Strengthening internet connectivity services

Internet service providers (ISPs) need backhaul to connect different customer locations to their more extensive internet infrastructure. Backhaul links end users’ residential broadband or enterprise networks to the ISP's core network, enabling high-speed connectivity and internet access.

Allowing wider connectivity in public spaces

Backhaul also supports wireless access points (WAPs) by connecting them to a wired network infrastructure. WAPs facilitate the use of Wi-Fi connections in residential, commercial, and public areas because they can transmit data wirelessly with backhaul. Several cities have metropolitan area networks (MANs), which also need backhaul to get a high-bandwidth Wi-Fi connection in public areas like shops, parks, and streets.

Driving secure systems and operations

Surveillance systems need a backhaul network to transfer video data from security cameras to centralized locations and facilities. Backhaul is necessary for security and monitoring applications because it enables real-time video streaming, provides remote access to surveillance data, and shares data, video, and voice throughput.

Improving private network architecture

Internet of Things (IoT) devices and sensor networks can connect to the central infrastructure thanks to backhaul. Private networks have become the norm for supplying broadband access to IoT-enabled devices and other large-scale settings. Being a key component of private network architecture, backhaul stimulates the collecting and dispatching of data from environments like these.

Enabling remote communication

Backhaul connects remote sites to a central network infrastructure, providing a secure connection to access central resources from anywhere and resulting in efficient communication between remote sites and the main network.

Haul in the connectivity.

Whether it's the optical fiber cables that run across mainlands like digital highways or the invisible airwaves buzzing with wireless signals, backhaul is the spine that connects us to the peripheral corners of our digital landscape, one byte at a time.

So the next time you marvel at the lightning-fast speed of your internet connection, remember that backhaul is the silent force behind it, carrying all the weight of data traffic on its digital back.

Make your backhaul infrastructure better using the best network management software.