Dimension cell-site backhaul from peak cell rates, statistical multiplexing gain, growth and protection overhead.
Cell sites do not all peak at the same instant, so an aggregation link carries far less than the arithmetic sum of site peaks. Applying the multiplexing factor first, then compounding traffic growth over the planning horizon, and finally adding a protection allowance gives a circuit size that stays valid for the life of the contract. Backhaul is usually leased on multi-year terms, so the number you order has to survive several years of growth without paying for capacity that idles from day one.
Backhaul Bandwidth
design = Σ peak × multiplexing factor × (1 + growth)^years × (1 + protection allowance).
design = Σ peak × multiplexing factor × (1 + growth)^years × (1 + protection allowance). Cell sites do not all peak at the same instant, so an aggregation link carries far less than the arithmetic sum of site peaks. Applying the multiplexing factor first, then compounding traffic growth over the planning horizon, and finally adding a protection allowance gives a circuit size that stays valid for the life of the contract.
Backhaul is usually leased on multi-year terms, so the number you order has to survive several years of growth without paying for capacity that idles from day one.
This calculator takes 6 inputs: Cell sites aggregated onto the link, Peak throughput per site, Statistical multiplexing factor, Annual traffic growth, Planning horizon, Protection and overhead allowance. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic starting point — replace them with figures from your own environment for a result you can act on.