Cost Optimized Planning of Fixed-Wireless Hybrid Access Networks

Abstract:
The average bandwidth demand per customer is expected to greatly increase in just a couple of years from now. Therefore, developing high performance access networks is the next target to be achieved. Fiber-to-the-home network deployment provides an excellent solution, but it also requires vast investments to be made. In consideration of this difficulty, the questions of how to limit the costs and if there is a possibility to combine other technologies during the planning stage become vital. In this paper, we propose a hybrid access network deployment strategy, where both fixed and wireless technologies are considered in order to achieve a cost-effective solution. Beside fixed fiber or copper lines, point-to-point optical wireless and fixed radio are candidates for connecting facilities, and on the last mile, LTE represents an alternative to wire-line to reach the customers. To determine a plan at minimal costs for these possible network deployments we use mathematical optimization methods. Calculations show that the deployment of wireless technologies can cut down expenditures, since the digging effort, the most costly expenditure can be reduced significantly.