Itu
Itu
ITU-T Series L
TELECOMMUNICATION Supplement 23
STANDARDIZATION SECTOR
OF ITU (04/2016)
Summary
Supplement 23 to ITU-T L-series of Recommendations provides technical information about the use
of microwave radio systems which are available for use in telecommunication networks for rural
communications in developing countries. Example applications include: high-capacity backbone
networks, synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH) network systems, and use in enterprise networks and
mobile backhauls. The attractive features of microwave systems for rural communications in
developing countries are: independence from geographical features, such as mountains and
archipelagos; rapid system integration at a low cost; robustness against disasters; and security against
human interference.
History
Edition Recommendation Approval Study Group Unique ID*
1.0 ITU-T L Suppl. 23 2016-04-27 5 11.1002/1000/12963
Keywords
Microwave radio, millimeter-wave radio, mobile backhaul, mobile networks.
* To access the Recommendation, type the URL http://handle.itu.int/ in the address field of your web
browser, followed by the Recommendation's unique ID. For example, http://handle.itu.int/11.1002/1000/11
830-en.
NOTE
In this publication, the expression "Administration" is used for conciseness to indicate both a
telecommunication administration and a recognized operating agency.
Compliance with this publication is voluntary. However, the publication may contain certain mandatory
provisions (to ensure, e.g., interoperability or applicability) and compliance with the publication is achieved
when all of these mandatory provisions are met. The words "shall" or some other obligatory language such as
"must" and the negative equivalents are used to express requirements. The use of such words does not suggest
that compliance with the publication is required of any party.
ITU 2016
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, by any means whatsoever, without the prior
written permission of ITU.
1 Scope
This Supplement provides technical information about the use of microwave radio systems which are
available for use in telecommunication networks for rural communications in developing countries.
Example applications include: high-capacity backbone networks, synchronous digital hierarchy
(SDH) network systems, and use in enterprise networks and mobile backhauls. The attractive features
of microwave systems for rural communications in developing countries are independence from
geographical features, such as mountains and archipelagos; short-term system integration at a low
cost; robustness against disasters; and security against human interference.
3 System description
The attractive features of microwave systems are independence from geographical features such as
mountains and archipelagos, a short-term, low-cost system integration period, robustness against
disasters, and tightness in security such as in terrorism countermeasures that are increasing in
importance. These features of microwave systems contribute to rapid and large-scale network
The required capacity depends on the link characteristics. Microwave radio equipment can change
the parameters, modulation and channel separation (CS). Same hardware can be applied to the various
links.
The entire V-band is from 57 to 66 GHz. The usable range in V-band is different for each country.
The common usable range is from 59 to 63 GHz. The minimum CS is 50 MHz. The combining of
multiple CSs, 100 MHz, 150 MHz, etc., is allowable.
The E-band is 71-76/81-86 GHz. The set of 5 GHz bandwidth is used for dual direction
communication. The minimum CS is basically 250 MHz. The one-quarter or one-half is also available
as the narrow band. The maximum CS depends on the regulation in each country. ETSI standard
provides the specifications for up to 2 GHz CS.
4 Technology
4.2 Equalizer
In the lower RF band below 10 GHz, fixed microwave service (FS) applications are usually for
transport networks where FS links are deployed with long-hop distance. In such cases, the system
must prepare a counter measure against fading. Adaptive equalization is a mandatory function. Even
for the higher RF band, an equalizer is needed to compensate for imperfections in hardware. The
equalizers contribute to performance improvement and equipment cost reduction, because
introduction of an equalizer enables the use of cheaper RF devices that have insufficient frequency
characteristics in the wireless equipment.
4.7 Protection
If necessary, microwave radio systems can have redundant configurations. When a regular channel is
broken or the quality of a received signal worsens, the signal transmission can automatically be
switched to a protection channel.
5.1 Capacity
Recently, the capacity of microwave system is growing due to bandwidth expansion, adopting of
higher modulation schemes and dual polarization transmission. The maximum capacity in one
channel (RF frequency) has reached over 1 Gbps. Even a popular system which uses standard
modulation scheme, 28 MHz CS and single polarization has a capacity of more than 150 Mbps
(corresponding to STM-1). This capacity is sufficient for the mobile backhaul application.
The capacity, C, is calculated by the following equation:
C fs log2 (M )
Where, M is modulation level (number of signal points) and fs is baud rate.
For example, the capacity of a 256 QAM with 25 Mbaud system is 200 Mbps. However, the net
capacity is around 90 percent of C due to the overhead signal insertion. The overhead signal includes
FEC redundancy, radio frame overhead and radio control signals.
In millimeter-wave systems, the capacity of a 256 QAM with 220Mbaud system is over 1760 Mbps.
However, the net capacity is around 90 percent of C due to the overhead signal insertion. The
overhead signal includes FEC redundancy, radio frame overhead and radio control signals.
The link budget of millimeter-wave systems can be calculated from some radio parameters same as
for microwaves. Some parameters are changed from Table 2 considering the practical conditions of
E-band. The link distance is one digit less than microwaves due to the effect of rainfall attenuation.
However, when the link distance is up to 500 metres, the wireless systems in E-band can achieve
higher-capacity transmission with high availability.
The typical technical and operational characteristics of microwave systems operating in some
administrations in the 6-42 GHz band are summarized in Table I.1 below.
Figure I.1 contains photos of split type microwave radio equipment. Figure I.1 (a) shows an IDU, and
(b) shows an outdoor unit (ODU) with an antenna.
Figure I.1 – Example of network elements for the 6-42 GHz band wireless link
Technical characteristics of the E-band (71-76 GHz, 81-86 GHz) wireless link
The typical technical and operational characteristics of millimeter-wave systems operating in some
administrations in the E-band are summarized in Table II.1 below.
In the E-band, very wide bandwidth, more than 250 MHz is available. Therefore, the E-band system
can achieve higher capacity.
Figure II.1 is a photo of the E-band radio equipment (all outdoor type) with an antenna.
Figure II.1 – Example of E-band (71-76 GHz, 81-86 GHz) wireless link
Series E Overall network operation, telephone service, service operation and human factors
Series J Cable networks and transmission of television, sound programme and other multimedia
signals
Series L Environment and ICTs, climate change, e-waste, energy efficiency; construction,
installation and protection of cables and other elements of outside plant
Series Y Global information infrastructure, Internet protocol aspects and next-generation networks,
Internet of Things and smart cities
Printed in Switzerland
Geneva, 2016