Apparatus and method of controlling utilization of a fronthaul link in a wireless communication network

A controller for a fronthaul link in a wireless communication network, the fronthaul link being configured to transport a time-domain sample representation of a carrier having a traffic load, the time-domain sample representation of the carrier being generated at a sample bit rate, the controller comprising:

• processing circuitry;
• memory containing instructions executable by the processing circuitry whereby the controller is operative to:
• obtain an indication of a traffic load of the carrier;
• determine a new bit rate for the time-domain sample representation of the carrier, the new bit rate being dependent on the indication of the traffic load of the carrier;
• and
• generate a control signal configured to cause the time-domain sample representation of the carrier to be generated at the new bit rate.

A wireless communication network node for connection to a fronthaul link in a wireless communication network, the fronthaul link being configured to transport a time-domain sample representation of a carrier having a traffic load, the time-domain sample representation of the carrier being generated at a sample bit rate, the wireless communication network node comprising:

• a controller comprising processing circuitry and memory containing instructions executable by the processing circuitry whereby the controller is operative to:
• obtain an indication of a traffic load of the carrier;
• determine a new bit rate for the time-domain sample representation of the carrier, the new bit rate being dependent on the indication of the traffic load of the carrier;
• and
• generate a control signal configured to cause the time-domain sample representation of the carrier to be generated at the new bit rate.

A non-transitory computer readable recording medium storing a computer program product for controlling utilization of a fronthaul link in a wireless communication network, the fronthaul link being configured to transport a time-domain sample representation of a carrier having a traffic load, the time-domain sample representation of the carrier being generated at a bit rate, the computer program product comprising software instructions which, when run on processing circuitry of a controller for the fronthaul link in the wireless communication network, causes the controller to:

• obtain an indication of a traffic load of the carrier;
• determine a new bit rate for the time-domain sample representation of the carrier, the new bit rate being dependent on the indication of the traffic load of the carrier;
• and
• generate a control signal configured to cause the time-domain sample representation of the carrier to be generated at the new bit rate.