Backhaul Bandwidth Calculator
Dimension cell-site backhaul from peak cell rates, statistical multiplexing gain, growth and protection overhead.
About Backhaul Bandwidth Calculator
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.
Formula
Backhaul Bandwidth
design = Σ peak × multiplexing factor × (1 + growth)^years × (1 + protection allowance).
- multiplexing factor
- Aggregate peak as a fraction of the sum of individual peaks
- years
- Planning horizon before the next upgrade
Worked example
With the default values below, Backhaul Bandwidth Calculator returns Backhaul Capacity to Order of 5.69. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.
Inputs used
- Cell sites aggregated onto the linkaccepts 1–500 sites
- 8 sites
- Peak throughput per siteaccepts 1–20,000 Mbps
- 600 Mbps
- Statistical multiplexing factoraccepts 5–100 %
- 45 %
- Annual traffic growthaccepts 0–200 %
- 30 %
- Planning horizonaccepts 1–15 years
- 3 years
- Protection and overhead allowanceaccepts 0–100 %
- 20 %
Results
- Backhaul Capacity to Order
- 5.69 Gbps
- Aggregate Load Today
- 2.16 Gbps
- Aggregate Load at End of Horizon
- 4.75 Gbps
- Sum of Unmultiplexed Peaks
- 4.80 Gbps
Step by step
- 1Values used
- 2Backhaul Bandwidth
- 3Backhaul Capacity to Order= 5.69 Gbps
- 4Aggregate Load Today= 2.16 Gbps
- 5Aggregate Load at End of Horizon= 4.75 Gbps
- 6Sum of Unmultiplexed Peaks= 4.80 Gbps
Assumptions and limits
- The result is derived only from the 6 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
- In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax or fees or charges into account.
- Figures are rounded for display to 2 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Backhaul Bandwidth calculated?
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.
Why does Backhaul Bandwidth matter?
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.
What values do I need to enter?
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.