Siklu's small cell backhaul system in advanced trials with leading mobile operators

ISRAEL: Siklu Communication Ltd., a leading provider of millimeter wave systems, is in the advanced trial stage of its new EtherHaul-600T small cell backhaul system with leading mobile operators, including Vodafone Group.

As thousands of small cells are expected to be deployed in street-level, highly populated metropolitan scenarios, it is clear that providing backhaul to the small cell is a key challenge. An ultra-low-cost and small form factor backhaul solution that blends into the street level environment is a key enabler to the mass deployment of small cells. To formulate their strategy for cost-effective small cell and backhaul deployments, major mobile operators are currently conducting technology trials with Siklu.

The EtherHaul-600T is an ultra-small all-outdoor small cell backhaul system operating in the unlicensed 57-66 GHz V-band spectrum. Its design enables rapid deployment anywhere from street lamps to rooftops, as service providers boost their network capacity through small cells in dense urban environments.

Siklu’s EtherHaul-600T has undergone lab testing and outdoor performance testing with mobile operators, with the units' performance gauged at various distances. For example, Vodafone has now deployed several EtherHaul-600T links in a UK city's downtown area. The EtherHaul-600T units are deployed in a daisy chain to provide the backhaul for real-life traffic generated by small cells, monitoring the performance and availability of the links.