CommScope's Solution: ERA C-RAN
I. ERA Overview
ERA is a complete, multi-operator, 2G/3G/4G/5G solution. The system is fully modular, allowing any combination of signal inputs, transport media, frequency bands and radio transmit power levels to meet the needs of any environment, ranging from carpeted office buildings to multi-building campuses, airports and stadiums.
1. Specifications
- All digital fiber and CAT6A fronthaul provides path for 5G migration
- Multi-operator, multi-technology
- Drastically smaller Head-End footprint
- All power classes – Low Power; Medium Power; High Power
- C-RAN support
- CPRI OR RF base station
2. ERA C-RAN System Architecture
3. ERA Equipment (v3.0.0)
A) Access Points
- UAP
- CAP L
- CAP 35/35/35/35
- CAP M
- CAP H
B) Distribution Equipment
- WIN
- CAN
- TEN
C) Modules
- Donor Cards (CPRI Digital, RF, RF HB)
- Transport Cards (Optical and Copper)
- Wi-Fi Card (Auxiliary Unit Transport Card)
- Service Card (System User Interface Card)
4. ERA Head-End Architecture
A) WIN (Wide Area Integration Node)
B) CAN (Central Area Node)
C) TEN (Transport Expansion Node)
II. ERA Head-End
1. ERA RFD – RF Donor Card
- Provides interface for RF signals between the WIN/CAN and the RF source
- Frequency range: 380 – 2700MHz
- Up to 80MHz IBW per port
- Input Range: -5dBm to +16dBm
- Technology agnostic: supports 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G over the complete frequency range
2. ERA RFD HB – RF Donor for high frequency bands
- Frequency range: 1700 – 3800MHz
- Up to 100 MHz IBW per port
- External attenuators 10/20/30dB available
- Technology agnostic: supports 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G over the complete frequency range
3. ERA CAT – Copper Transport Card & ERA OPT – Optical Card
A) ERA CAT – Copper Transport Card
- Provides power and 10 Gbps data over CAT6A cable to access points and new generation access points copper-fed
B) ERA CAT2 – Copper Transport Card
- Up to 320MHz per port
- Up to 2x 320MHz per card dual link to APs always required
C) ERA OPT – Optical Card
- Provides a 10 Gbps fiber connection between WIN/CAM and CAN/TEN and access points fiber-fed
D) ERA OPT2 – Optical Card
- Provides a 25Gpbs fiber connection between CAN/TEN and the new Generation Access Points fiber-fed
- Up to 800MHz bandwidth per port
5. ERA UDC (Universal Donor Card)
- Up to two 10 Gbps and 25Gbps SFP+ supported
- Maximum bandwidth per card: 320MHz, software upgradable to 400MHz
- 5GNR and LTE support
III. Era 5G Access Points
1. CAP 35/35/35/35 – EMEA
- Total bandwidth of 480MHz with 2 optical links
- IP 67
- Passive cooling
- Bandwidth of 120MHz per path
2. CAP H 35T – EMEA
- Total bandwidth of 400MHz with 2 optical links
- Two RF antenna ports
- Active cooling
3. ERA New Generation Access Points – UAP 2
- Up to 4 radio modules per unit
- Internal antennas
- Total bandwidth up to 640 MHz/ 800MHz bandwidth software update with OPT 2
- Field upgradability
4. ERA New Generation Access Points – CAP L 2
- Modular
- External antennas
- IP 68
- Passive cooling
5. ERA New Generation Access Points – CAP M 2
- Modular
- External antennas
- Up to +34 dBm per antenna port per radio modules
- IP 68
- Passive cooling
IV. ERA Access Point – Bandwidth and Transport
1. New Generation Access Points
- No cascading possible with the New Gen Access Points
- New Gen copper-fed units must be fed from two ports of a CAT 2 card, for power reasons
- New Gen fiber-fed Access Points can be fed from both OPT and OPT 2 cards
For more information regarding CommScope and all of their products, you can visit their web-site: https://www.commscope.com/