Evaluation of bandwidth and power consumption in reconfigurable fronthaul network architecture

The introduction of the Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI) technology allows for a centralization in Base Bandwidth Unit (BBU) of some access functions with advantages in terms of power consumption saving when switching off algorithms are implemented. Unfortunately the advantages of the CPRI technology is to be paid with an increase in bandwidth to be carried between the BBU and the Radio Remote Unit (RRU) in which only the radio functions are implemented. Bandwidth saving can be achieved with the use of a reconfigurable network carrying the traffic generated by the RRUs towards the Central Office (CO) where the BBUs are located. We introduce an analytical model to evaluate the bandwidth and power consumptions and observe how, due to statistical multiplexing effects, the savings increase when the number of RRUs managed by each of the Access Nodes of the reconfigurable network increases. For instance we show how in 5G traffic scenarios, this percentage saving can vary from 30% to 50% according to total traffic amount handled by a switching node of the reconfigurable network.