Report: Cable will have growing backhaul opportunities

The explosion of wireless traffic means there will continue to be plenty of opportunity for cable operators to supplement their income with backhaul services, according to a new report from Visant Strategies. "Backhaul cost and capacity challenges exist in the middle and edge of the wireless network, as leased copper lines which backhaul most base stations today are often deemed too costly for the exponential jump in backhaul capacity that will be needed for 3.5G/4G," said report author Andy Fuertes of Visant Strategies. "Fiber is not always available at the base station or at middle elements of the wireless network, such as the RNC/BSC, so carriers are using more wireless backhaul," said Larry Swasey of Visant Strategies. While the report focuses on growing backhaul needs at the core of the network, all reaches of the network are set for growth.