Redesigning fronthaul for next-generation networks: beyond baseband samples and point-to-point links

The fronthaul is an indispensable enabler for 5G networks. However, the classical fronthauling method demands large bandwidth, low latency, and tight synchronization from the transport network, and only allows for point-to-point logical topology. This greatly limits the usage of fronthaul in many 5G scenarios. In this article, we introduce a new perspective to understand and design fronthaul for n...