6.12 Self backhaul

22.2613GPPRelease 18Service requirements for the 5G systemTS

6.12.1 Description

The increased density of access nodes needed to meet future performance objectives poses considerable challenges in deployment and management (e.g. backhaul availability, backhaul capacity and scalability). The use of wireless backhaul for such access nodes helps to address some of the challenges.

Wireless self-backhauling in the radio access network can enable simpler deployment and incremental rollout by reducing reliance on the availability of wired backhaul at each access node location. Network planning and installation efforts can be reduced by leveraging plug and play type features — self-configuration, self-organizing, and self-optimization.

6.12.2 Requirements

The 5G network shall enable operators to support wireless self-backhaul using NR and E-UTRA.

The 5G network shall support flexible and efficient wireless self-backhaul for both indoor and outdoor scenarios.

The 5G network shall support flexible partitioning of radio resources between access and backhaul functions.

The 5G network shall support autonomous configuration of access and wireless self-backhaul functions.

The 5G network shall support multi-hop wireless self-backhauling.

NOTE 1: This is to enable flexible extension of range and coverage area.

The 5G network shall support autonomous adaptation on wireless self-backhaul network topologies to minimize service disruptions.

The 5G network shall support topologically redundant connectivity on the wireless self-backhaul.

NOTE 2: This is to enhance reliability and capacity and reduce end-to-end latency.