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Transport Networks · Microwave · Fibre · Satellite · Fronthaul

The Backhaul Determines
Whether Your SLA Holds or Breaks.

The 5G core can guarantee sub-5ms latency. The radio can deliver 1Gbps throughput. But if the transport network between them is congested, lossy, or unavailable — everything fails. HCT designs transport networks that match the performance of the 5G system they carry.

Transport AssessmentPrivate 5G Platform
<1msFronthaul Latency Budget (eCPRI)
100GbpsCore Transport Capacity
Multi-PathAutomatic Failover in <50ms
99.999%Transport Availability SLA
Transport Portfolio

Every Link. Every Topology. Every Distance.

HCT engineers transport solutions across all media — fibre, microwave, mmWave, and satellite — with the synchronisation precision and latency budgets that 5G URLLC and MCPTT demand.

eCPRI Fronthaul (7.2x Split)

Open RAN 7.2x split requires eCPRI fronthaul with <100 microsecond one-way delay and <±65ns time synchronisation (IEEE 1588v2 / SyncE). HCT designs and certifies fronthaul networks between O-DU and O-RU using CPRI-grade fibre or dedicated mmWave links.

eCPRI · <100μs OWD · IEEE 1588v2 · SyncE · 25GbE

Microwave Backhaul (6–80GHz)

Licenced microwave links for base station backhaul across 1–80km. Full-duplex at 2×1Gbps or 2×10Gbps depending on frequency band. Yemen MTIT spectrum coordination included. Adaptive coding and modulation (ACM) maintains link during rain fade events.

6–80GHz · 10Gbps per Link · ACM · Licensed Bands · 80km Range

mmWave E-Band (70/80GHz)

E-Band microwave delivers 10Gbps+ per channel over 1–5km links — ideal for urban macro backhaul where fibre deployment is impractical. HCT uses E-Band for dense port terminal and campus backhaul where latency must stay under 1ms over the wireless hop.

E-Band · 10Gbps+ · <1ms Hop Latency · Urban Dense Use

VSAT and LEO Satellite Backhaul

For offshore oil platforms, desert oilfield sites, and remote government installations beyond microwave range. HCT integrates VSAT (GEO: 600ms RTT) for non-latency-sensitive backhaul and LEO (Starlink, OneWeb: 20-40ms) for sites requiring lower latency satellite paths.

GEO VSAT · LEO Starlink/OneWeb · IP Bonding · Offshore Rated

Dark Fibre and Optical Transport

For high-capacity campus and metro transport, HCT deploys DWDM optical transport on leased or customer-owned dark fibre. 100GbE or 400GbE wavelengths. OTN framing for deterministic latency. OADM ring protection with <50ms restoration on fibre cut.

DWDM · 100GbE/400GbE · OTN · OADM Ring · <50ms Protection

Synchronisation — IEEE 1588v2 / SyncE

5G URLLC and Carrier Aggregation require <±65ns time synchronisation between gNBs. HCT deploys IEEE 1588v2 Precision Time Protocol (PTP) grandmaster clocks with SyncE frequency synchronisation — ensuring all base stations share the same nanosecond time reference.

IEEE 1588v2 PTP · SyncE · ±65ns Accuracy · PRTC Grandmaster

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does backhaul determine whether an SLA holds?

The radio network can only deliver what the transport layer carries. If backhaul or fronthaul is under-provisioned or lacks redundancy, latency and availability targets fail regardless of RAN quality. Transport design is therefore engineered against the SLA, not added afterwards.

What transport technologies does HCT Group deploy?

Licensed and unlicensed microwave, E-Band for high-capacity short hops, DWDM for high-capacity optical transport, and fibre. The mix is selected against distance, capacity, latency budget and site access constraints.

When is microwave preferable to fibre?

Where fibre trenching is slow, costly or not permitted, microwave and E-Band deliver high capacity in days rather than months. Fibre remains preferable for very high capacity, long-term core routes. Many deployments use microwave for rapid delivery with fibre following.

Design Your Transport

Transport Built for 5G URLLC — Not Consumer Broadband

HCT designs and delivers transport networks that match the performance of the 5G system they carry — with the synchronisation accuracy URLLC demands.

Transport Design WorkshopPrivate 5G Platform