5G-XHaul · Project

Smart Network Technology That Connects 5G Small Cells Faster and Cheaper

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Imagine your mobile network is like a highway system — the big towers are motorways, but the small antennas in every neighbourhood are side streets. The problem is connecting all those side streets back to the motorway cheaply and flexibly. This project built a system that combines wireless radio links with fibre-optic cables, and uses smart software to automatically shift capacity to wherever the crowd is — like traffic lights that predict rush hour and reroute before congestion hits. They proved it works across a real city-wide network in Bristol, UK.

By the numbers

consortium partners collaborating on the solution

countries represented (DE, EL, ES, UK)

industry partners in the consortium

total project deliverables produced

54%

industry ratio in the consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

Mobile operators face massive costs when connecting thousands of 5G small cells and cloud radio access networks back to the core network. Traditional fixed connections are expensive to deploy, while wireless-only links lack capacity. The real challenge is that user traffic is unpredictable — surging at events, shifting with commuters — and current networks cannot dynamically reallocate transport capacity to where it is actually needed.

The solution

What was built

The project delivered an integrated prototype combining dynamically programmable mm-Wave transceivers (point-to-multipoint, cooperating with sub-6-GHz), a Time Shared Optical Network with elastic bandwidth allocation, and a software-defined cognitive control plane that forecasts and adapts to traffic demand. All subsystems were evaluated end-to-end in a city-wide testbed in Bristol, UK, with 24 deliverables produced in total.

Audience

Who needs this

Mobile network operators deploying dense 5G small cell networksNetwork equipment manufacturers building backhaul/fronthaul productsSmart city planners needing adaptive high-bandwidth urban connectivityStadium and venue operators requiring flexible high-capacity wireless coverageEnterprise campus network operators managing variable traffic loads

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Telecommunications

enterprise

Target: Mobile network operators deploying 5G small cells

If you are a mobile operator struggling with the cost and complexity of connecting thousands of small cells back to your core network — this project developed a converged optical-wireless transport system with a smart control plane that dynamically allocates bandwidth where demand spikes. Tested across a city-wide testbed in Bristol with 13 consortium partners, it showed how to reduce backhaul infrastructure costs while handling real-world traffic patterns.

Smart Cities & Urban Infrastructure

any

Target: City authorities and urban connectivity providers

If you are a city or venue operator needing reliable high-bandwidth coverage for dense crowds and events — this project built mm-Wave transceivers and elastic optical networks that automatically shift capacity to actual hotspots. The cognitive control plane forecasts traffic demand in time and space, meaning your network adapts before users even notice congestion. Demonstrated in a real city environment in Bristol.

Network Equipment Manufacturing

mid-size

Target: Companies developing backhaul and fronthaul hardware

If you are a network equipment maker looking to differentiate your 5G transport products — this project produced point-to-multipoint mm-Wave transceivers cooperating with sub-6-GHz systems, plus a Time Shared Optical Network with fine-granular bandwidth allocation. With 7 industry partners in the consortium and contributions to international standards, the technology components are designed for integration into commercial product lines.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to license or adopt this technology?

The project was a Research and Innovation Action (RIA) coordinated by IHP GmbH, a Leibniz research institute. Licensing terms would need to be negotiated directly with the IP holders in the 13-partner consortium. Based on available project data, no public pricing or licensing model has been disclosed.

Can this scale to a full commercial network deployment?

The technology was validated in a city-wide testbed in Bristol, UK, under realistic workloads including dynamic traffic and mobility scenarios. The integrated prototype combined optical and wireless subsystems end-to-end. This is strong evidence of scalability, though moving from testbed to full commercial rollout would require additional engineering and certification.

Who owns the intellectual property?

IP is shared among the 13 consortium partners across 4 countries (DE, EL, ES, UK), including 7 industry partners and 2 SMEs. Specific IP allocation follows the consortium agreement. Companies interested in specific components (mm-Wave, optical, or control plane) would need to identify the relevant partner.

Does this comply with telecom regulations and standards?

The project explicitly aimed to support the development of international standards through technical and techno-economic contributions. The mm-Wave and optical technologies were designed to cooperate with existing sub-6-GHz systems and passive optical networks, suggesting compatibility with current infrastructure.

How long would it take to integrate this into our existing network?

The project ran for 3 years (2015-2018) and produced 24 deliverables including an integrated prototype. The software-defined cognitive control plane was designed for flexibility, but integration timelines depend on your existing infrastructure. The SDN-based approach suggests it can work alongside current network management systems.

Is there ongoing support or development?

The project ended in June 2018. However, the 7 industry partners and 2 SMEs in the consortium may have continued commercial development independently. The contributions to international standards also mean some technology concepts have been carried forward into 5G specifications.

Consortium

Who built it

The 5G-XHaul consortium is notably industry-heavy with 7 out of 13 partners (54%) coming from the private sector, supported by 4 universities and 2 research organizations across Germany, Greece, Spain, and the UK. This strong industry presence — including 2 SMEs — signals that the technology was developed with commercial viability in mind, not just academic interest. The coordinator, IHP GmbH (Leibniz Institute for High Performance Microelectronics in Germany), brings deep expertise in chip and transceiver design. For a business considering this technology, the diverse consortium means multiple potential entry points: you can approach hardware suppliers, software vendors, or system integrators depending on which component fits your needs.

IHP GMBH - LEIBNIZ INSTITUTE FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE MICROELECTRONICSCoordinator · DE
Xilinx Dresden GMBHparticipant · DE
HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES DUESSELDORF GMBHparticipant · DE
COSMOTE KINITES TILEPIKOINONIES MONOPROSOPI AEparticipant · EL
BLU WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY LIMITEDparticipant · UK
TELEFONICA INVESTIGACION Y DESARROLLO SAparticipant · ES
UNIVERSITAT POLITECNICA DE CATALUNYAthirdparty · ES
UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOLparticipant · UK
PANEPISTIMIO THESSALIASparticipant · EL
ADTRAN NETWORKS SEparticipant · DE
FUNDACIO PRIVADA I2CAT, INTERNET I INNOVACIO DIGITAL A CATALUNYAparticipant · ES
TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET DRESDENparticipant · DE

How to reach the team

IHP GmbH - Leibniz Institute for High Performance Microelectronics, Frankfurt (Oder), Germany. Contact details can be found via their institutional website.

Order a report on this consortium See IHP GMBH - LEIBNIZ INSTITUTE FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE MICROELECTRONICS profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore licensing options or get connected to the right partner in this consortium? SciTransfer can identify which of the 13 partners holds the IP relevant to your use case and facilitate an introduction.

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