Miroslaw Mrozik – Head of product management of fibre connectivity outdoor at HUBER+SUHNER

HUBER+SUHNER recently announced the MLUH HV can you tell us a bit more about this technology?

In the telecommunications industry, there is one stand-out topic which is driving innovation for mobile operators around the world: 5G. The new mobile network generation is set to change the way the whole world is organized and connected. The Internet of Things is set to boom, as huge numbers of devices start to connect and exchange huge amounts of data with the expectation of low latency.

5G is already well-recognized when it comes to radio technologies, with all operators in current phases of planning for infrastructure compatibility with newly developed devices.

What is known for certain, is that network densification is one of the major driving forces behind 5G. This comes in the form of adding more frequencies, antennas, or small cells to the existing network and concentrating the calculation power of baseband units (BBUs) in central offices. Massive MIMO together with beamforming and the introduction of new frequencies are also driving change in the industry. Lastly, within the microwave range of technologies, connectivity will come together completely at a single cell site antenna mast – creating yet another aspect of 5G compliance for operators to think about.

The task at hand is not a simple one, with existing infrastructure needing to have the ability to bear and provide much higher electrical energy to support all of the new technologies. Higher energy is needed on-site, which currently sits at a typical 5kW cell site, further developing into an up to 15kW site. Todays 48 VDC power supply technology is going to either overload existing power installations (cable sizes, available point of connect, etc.) or will cause such high voltage drops (due to much higher currents) that the active devices (RRUs and AAUs) will become inoperable.

Facing this, many operators are looking to HUBER+SUHNER for new discrete and hybrid cell site cable systems which are capable to safely and reliably transfer higher voltages. This is due to HUBER+SUHNER being well known for possessing the highest product quality along with its capacity to customize products quickly and with an innovative approach. This is how our MASTERLINE Ultimate Hybrid High Voltage (MLUH HV) was born.  The MLUH HV is the first system to conform with CE requirements concerning devices using standard net voltage for operation, in this case, 230 VAC (designed to cover all the standard power net voltages around the world).

What challenges does it overcome? Any successes to report to date?

HUBER+SUHNER’s technology and approach were adopted quickly and is already being deployed and implemented in the Netherlands. Using a 230 VAC power supply simplifies operator’s processes in the following ways:

  • The whole power supply setup is very simple and reliable.
  • The 230 VAC / 48 VDC converter is located next to the radio head, which minimizes power losses due to lower currents.
  • The copper raiser cables require much lower diameters which makes them lighter, more flexible, installation-friendly and of course cost-effective.

When you consider the above key aspects and combine the general advantages offered by our MLUH product line, customers can confidently receive the most reliable and cost-effective solution available on the market.

How is HUBER+SUHNER focusing on research and development in this area?

At HUBER+SUHNER we design our cable systems in such a way that they always provide the highest level of reliability and safety, no matter the requirements of the deployment. When developing new technologies, it is also crucial that we provide solutions that our customers can easily integrate into existing cable systems on-site. Our solutions are remarkably flexible, and we also provide all available terminations so our customers can be connected to any radio head type of any OEM. To achieve this, we strongly invest in fibre connector and power connector design as well as in the latest (micro) injection moulding technologies.

The modularity of our MASTERLINE portfolio allows us to be fast and customer-specific in case of operator and site-specific cable assembly designs. As each mobile network operator has its own network legacy and rollout approach, we have become accustomed to meeting a number of different project requirements across the globe. Our technology and expertise know no bounds in this area.

What can we expect from HUBER+SUHNER in the next few months?

We want to continue to be a reliable partner of mobile operators, especially in regard to 5G. Ultimately, our aim is to become the one-stop-shop and vendor of choice for all fibre optic, electric and RF-connectivity.  Based on our vast product portfolio, we will continue to offer the simplest and most complementary solutions for 5G cell site roll-outs, vendor-independent as well as covering macro and small cell-site requirements.

We continue to build on our “5G forces strategy” which represents the company’s global presence and experience in 3G and 4G roll-outs over the last decade. In addition to this, we position ourselves in the 5G context as network densification specialists. This includes the development of the company from a pure vertical cell–site cable product vendor into a complete solution provider – offering modern answers to connectivity, capacity and antenna challenges of 5G with a cross-divisional portfolio in FO/RF and LF technologies.

Drawing on the special challenge of Small Cell introductions to operator networks (i.e. 7-10 times more sites, special requirements and extreme sharp OPEX/CAPEX budgets) we design our products by having in mind the motto: “It’s so simple, it’s a sin”!

Our upcoming innovations are strictly focusing on ease of use, time of installation and cost. Our aim is to be able to continue to serve our customer needs even faster without compromising the quality, and the upcoming developments in 5G are no different. 5G mobile communication generation is not just an evolution – it is a complete revolution and is set to change how we use radio technologies and network architecture. HUBER+SUHNER is ready to face this roller-coaster ride, offering professional partnership, quality, reliability and extremely fast and customized solutions.

Are you ready for 5G? We are.

About Miroslaw Mrozik:

Miroslaw Mrozik is the Head of Product Management for the Fiber Connectivity Outdoor business unit at HUBER+SUHNER AG, global leaders in products and services for electrical and optical connectivity.

He holds a Master of Science degree from AGH University of Science and Technology, as well as many years of experience in product and project management in the industry. Miroslaw previously held leading roles within Geobrugg, a manufacturer and producer of protection systems made of high-tensile steel wire. Initially, as interim managing director, moving to head of product management, and finally deputy director of global marketing and product management.