5G Small-Cell Networks Exploiting Optical Technologies with mmWave Massive MIMO and MT-MAC Protocols

Analog optical fronthaul for 5G network architectures is currently being promoted as a bandwidthand energy-efficient technology that can sustain the data-rate, latency and energy requirements of the emerging 5G era. This paper deals with a new optical fronthaul architecture that can effectively synergize optical transceiver, optical add/drop multiplexer and optical beamforming integrated photonics towards a DSP-assisted analog fronthaul for seamless and medium-transparent 5G small-cell networks. Its main application targets include Urban and Hot-Spot Area networks, promoting the deployment of mmWave massive MIMO Remote Radio Heads (RRHs) that can offer wireless data-rates ranging from 25 to 100 Gb/s and beyond depending on the fronthaul technology employed (e.g. spatial or wavelength division multiplexing transport). Small-cell access and resource allocation is ensured via a Medium-Transparent (MT-) MAC protocol that enables the transparent communication between the central office and the wireless end-users or the access cells via V-band massive MIMO RRHs.