5G Fronthaul and Backhaul Transceivers: 10G to 100G

The 5G mobile network challenge

EON Technology supplies 10G, 25G and 100G transceivers for 5G fronthaul, midhaul and backhaul, validated by model, firmware, port and optical part number on the transport platforms operators and RAN integrators already run. You get eCPRI-grade optics for every segment without depending on a single vendor’s price list.

5G, the latest step in the evolution of mobile networks from 2G onward, multiplies antenna density, bandwidth and the demand for low latency. RAN (Radio Access Network) transport is split into fronthaul, midhaul and backhaul, and each segment sets its own requirements for capacity, synchronization and distance. The optics must be precise, robust and compatible with the installed transport equipment.

Typical architecture and where the optics fit

Fronthaul (RU to DU): eCPRI/CPRI interface, typically 10G and increasingly 25G with SFP28 per antenna sector. Sensitive to latency and timing (synchronization), often over industrial-temperature optics at the cell site.
Midhaul (DU to CU): aggregation at 25G/100G.
Backhaul (CU to core): 100G with QSFP28 and, for long spans, DWDM transport.

At sites with limited fiber, BiDi links halve the strands each connection needs, and CWDM lets several sectors share one fiber pair back to the hub.

Recommended transceivers

SFP28 modules (25G) for high-capacity eCPRI fronthaul.
QSFP28 modules (100G) for aggregated midhaul and backhaul.
SFP+ modules (10G) for CPRI fronthaul and lower-density sites.

Before ordering, have at hand the transport platform model and firmware at the cell site and at the hub, the port type (SFP+, SFP28 or QSFP28), the fiber type and span length, and whether the site needs industrial-temperature optics for outdoor cabinets. With that we confirm the optical part number and whether the platform needs recoding. Fronthaul also brings a strict timing requirement: 25G eCPRI modules must keep the fixed, low latency that IEEE 1588 synchronization expects, so the module choice is validated against the sync design and not only against the port speed.

Why EON Technology

We support operators and RAN integrators with multivendor optics and compatibility validated by model, firmware, port and optical part number on the main transport platforms. Some platforms report third-party optics as unsupported; when yours does, transceiver recoding adapts and validates the module, with 90-day service coverage. You get significant savings against the OEM part and engineering support before and after purchase, backed by a 1- to 5-year product warranty. EON serves Latin America and Spain from a centralized operation in Colombia. Schedule a proof of concept, review the compatibility matrix or talk to an engineer.

Frequently asked questions

What is fronthaul, midhaul and backhaul in 5G?

They are the three segments of RAN transport: fronthaul links the radio unit (RU) to the distributed unit (DU); midhaul links the DU to the centralized unit (CU); backhaul connects the CU to the core. Each segment has its own latency and bandwidth budget.

What speed does 5G fronthaul need?

eCPRI fronthaul usually runs at 10G and, increasingly, at 25G (SFP28) per antenna, given the higher capacity of 5G. Midhaul and backhaul aggregate at 25G/100G depending on the site.

What is eCPRI compared with CPRI?

CPRI is the traditional radio-to-baseband interface; eCPRI (enhanced CPRI) modernizes it for fronthaul over Ethernet/IP, which is more bandwidth-efficient and suited to the functional split of 5G.