With the surge in 3G data services, cellular operators are already feeling mounting pressure to augment backhaul bandwidth. Recently, these operators as well as backhaul transport providers have begun to use GFP-compliant circuit bonding to deliver Ethernet services, along with traditional voice services, to their cell and hub sites, which are already connected to T1/E1 and T3 lines.

Indeed, in a report released on May 8 entitled "Ethernet Backhaul:
Strategies & Opportunities," Patrick Donegan, the Senior Analyst at Heavy Reading, concluded:

By and large, mobile operators think of fiber as the preferred medium for delivering Ethernet service in the last mile. However, the cost of trenching fiber to the cell site can often demolish the business case for Ethernet backhaul. Because of this, and because of the rate at which HSDPA and EV-DO are being rolled out, mobile operators have to consider alternatives to fiber. Many mobile operators are examining Ethernet over circuit bonding and there is evidence of significant interest and the beginnings of initial roll-out commitments on the part of operators.

"RAD's RICi-16 combination Ethernet, T1/E1 and T3 multiplexer is perfectly suited for the emerging challenge with wireless backhaul," states Shoval Bolotin, Product Line Manager at RAD Data Communications. The circuit bonding function engineered into the RICi-16 creates a scalable, virtual large pipe composed of four, eight or sixteen

T1/E1 lines to deliver high-speed Ethernet using the standards-based GFP protocol. Any combination of T1/E1s can be bonded and used for Ethernet transport while the remainder can be reserved for voice. "In this way," Bolotin notes, "wireless transport providers can provide high-speed Ethernet bandwidth when ordinary T3 links do not exist or are otherwise unavailable."

T3 Connections at Hub Locations and Tower
sAs backhaul bandwidth demand grows in the years ahead, T3 connections will inevitably be added to hub locations – and certain cell site towers as well. In this scenario, the RICi-16/T3 can be used to combine up to 16 T1/E1s from the tower along with Ethernet traffic and backhaul them across a single T3 connection.

"The RIC-16 provides great flexibility since it incorporates both GFP circuit bonding along with traditional M13 mux capabilities," Bolotin concludes. "The RICi-16 will prove itself to be a truly ingenious way to dramatically reduce capital (Capex) and operating expenses (Opex), which is a high priority item on the agenda of every cellular operator and transport provider."

EtherAccess Strategy
RAD's RICi-16 is part of its EtherAccess strategy for delivering both Ethernet and emulated services over any infrastructure. EtherAccess is designed to provide carriers and their customers with a cost-effective, standards-based system for delivering a uniform user experience with verifiable SLAs.