Carrier Aggregation(CA)

Technology

Why Is CA Used?
With the rapid development of networks, the 5G microwave transmission era is upon us, requiring a larger microwave transmis-
sion bandwidth. Currently, 28 MHz bandwidth is the mainstream used globally. However, the backhaul capacity of about 50% of
global sites has reached 200 Mbit/s. According to an annual bandwidth increase of 30% on the wireless side, it is predicted that the
backhaul capacity of some base stations will reach 400 Mbit/s by 2019. 28 MHz channel bandwidth cannot address this increase,
meaning that a larger channel bandwidth is required.
For traditional-band microwave, the spectrum efficiency can be improved in many ways, such as by means of XPIC or MIMO. On the
other hand, the bandwidth of microwave links can be increased by adding spectrums. If spectrums need to be added, a larger
channel bandwidth, such as 56 MHz, 112 MHz, or even 224 MHz, can be used. However, continuous large bandwidth is difficult to
obtain and may cause more network interference. In this case, discontinuous spectrums are required to meet capacity require-
ments. However, combining discontinuous spectrums requires an independent transceiver system to be connected in combina-
tion mode. This causes a lot of problems, such as complex configurations, more ODU hardware, more IF cables, large tower space
usage, and high maintenance costs. The rapid growth of bandwidth poses new requirements and challenges for microwave.

Larger bandwidth
• Annual increase of 30%, up
to 400 Mbit/s in 2019
• 28 MHz cannot meet
demand
No continuous
spectrum
• 56 MHz /112 MHz /224 MHz
difficult to obtain
• More network interference
High cost for combining
discrete spectrums
• More ODU hardware, more IF
cables
• Large tower space
• High maintenance cost

What Is CA?
CA can aggregate multiple dispersed channels to provide a larger logical bandwidth, addressing large-capacity microwave
transmission for future 5G networks.
CA that aggregates n * channels is called n * CA configuration. For example, 2 CA configuration means that two channels are aggre-
gated into one channel. 2 CA configuration is equivalent to 2+0 configuration.

f1 f2
f1

CH1 CA
f2 Aggregates two CH1+CH2
channels to one.
CH2
CA technology can reduce hardware and maintenance costs, simplify installation, and improve deployment efficiency. CA technol-
ogy can also be used with spectral efficiency technologies such as XPIC and MIMO to provide larger-bandwidth scenarios, for
example, CA+MIMO and CA+XPIC.
Although CA technology can achieve a larger bandwidth, it has some application limitations. During network planning and design,
you also must consider the power backoff caused by CA technology.

高品质专线的特征
Basic Principles of CA
Use the 2CA transmit end as an example to describe basic principles of CA.
1. Service signals are allocated to two channels of the modem unit through the multiplexing unit and then modulated into two
channels of digital signals.
2. Digital signals are converted into IF signals through the IF unit and then combined into one channel of IF signal through the IF
combination unit.
3. The combined IF signal is sent to the RF Unit.
4. The RF CA Unit divides the received one-channel IF signal into two channels of IF signals and sends them to two transmitter units
separately.
5. Two channels of carriers are converted into the required frequency intervals and then aggregated into one channel of signal
through the RF aggregation unit.
6. The aggregated signal is converted to the required frequencies.

IF Unit RF Unit

Ch1
Service 1 f1'
Tx1 f1 f2
f1' f2'
Service IF CA RF
Up
Service 2 RF CA RF
conversion

Ch2 Tx2

Modem
f2'

Huawei CA Solution
高品质专线的特征
In Huawei's latest ISM8 + XMC-5D dual-channel ODU solution, each channel supports 2 CA and the sum of aggregated spectrums
can be up to 224 MHz. The total dual-channel capacity is expected to reach about 5 Gbit/s.

Dual-channel 2 CA configuration

XMC-5D ODU
Benefits

The traditional N+0 configuration requires N ODUs for link transmission. To perform capacity expansion, new hardware must be
added, such as IF boards, ODUs, hybrid couplers, and antennas.
To perform CA expansion through the XMC-5D ODU, no outdoor hardware is required.

Traditional 4+0 configuration Traditional 1+0 configuration Dual-channel 2 CA configuration

Separete Mounting Direct Mounting

Capacity Capacity
expansion expansion

Traditional ODU XMC-5 ODU

vs

Simplified expansion Flexible scenario

Traditional
CA Configuration Configuration
Outdoor hardware Not required Required
Installation Not required Required
on the tower
f1 f2 Adjacent channelsl

Simplified installation
f1 f2 Non-adjacent channels
Save tower space.
Increase deployment efficiency.
112M 112M Up to 2 x 112 MHz

Reduced costs
Flexibly combine scattered spectrums.
Reduce component costs.
Reduce installation costs.
Typical Application Scenarios

CA configuration allows multiple RF configuration modes. The following are typical RF configuration modes ( 10 GE cable).

2 CA 2 CA + XPIC

2x2 CA 2 CA + 4x4 MIMO

2 CA 2 CA + XPIC

f1 f2 f1 f2

XMC-5D XMC-5D

System control, switching System control, switching System control, switching System control, switching
&timing board &timing board f1 &timing board &timing board f2
f1 f2 PIU PIU
ISM8 ISM8 ISM8
FAN FAN

PIU PIU

2x2 CA

f1 f2

XMC-5D f3 f4

System control, switching, System control, switching,

&timing board &timing board
f1 f2 PIU f3 f4
ISM8 ISM8
FAN

PIU

2 CA + 4x4 MIMO

f1 f2

XMC-5D

f1 f2

XMC-5D

System control, switching, System control, switching,

&timing board &timing board
PIU
f1 ISM8 ISM8 f2
FAN
f1 ISM8 ISM8 f2
PIU
Key Devices

ISM8: dual-channel IF board that supports CA

Two IF ports XPIC

Large bandwidth: 224 MHz MIMO
High modulation: 8192QAM 2 CA

XMC-5D dual-channel ODU: industry's first 2T2R CA (4 carriers) ODU

Dual-channel
2x2 CA
2 CA + XPIC
2 CA + 4x4 MIMO