Mobile backhaul refers to the transport network that connects the core network and the RAN (Radio Access Network) of the mobile network. Recently, the introduction of small cells has given rise to the concept of fronthaul, which is a transport network that connects the macrocell to the small cells. Whilst mobile backhaul and fronthaul are different concept, the term mobile backhaul is generally used to encompass both concepts.

Prescient data communication products include Routers & Broadband Multi-Service Gateways, IP transport platforms, Ethernet switches, SDN/NFV-based elastic controllers, and virtual devices. They are applicable to diversified application scenarios, for instance, mobile backhaul scenarios, vDCs, smart MANs, smart backbone networks, and enterprise cloud access scenarios.

Fronthaul is associated with a new and different type of Radio Access Network (RAN) architecture consisting of centralized baseband controllers and standalone radio heads installed at remote cell sites located kilometers to tens of kilometers away. These BBU and RU functional blocks, as well as the equipment that performs these functions, are located further away from each other than in the mobile backhaul model.

In the fronthaul model, the RU equipment is now referred to as a Remote Radio Head (RRH) but is still located at the cell site. The BBU is now relocated to centralized and protected location where it serves multiple RRHs. The optical links that interconnect the newly centralized BBU and the multiple RRHs is referred to as fronthaul.