Switching data signals of at least two types for transmission over a transport network providing both backhaul and fronthaul (xhaul)connectivity

An apparatus for switching data signals transmitted over a transport network, the apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of first ports configured to receive a plurality of input data signals of a first signal type which are exchanged between a Radio Equipment (RE) and a Radio Equipment Controller (REC);
• a first switch configured to aggregate the plurality of input data signals into an aggregated first data signal;
• a second port configured to receive a second data signal of a second signal type different to the first signal type;
• a multiplexing switch configured to multiplex the aggregated first data signal with the second data signal to form a combined data signal;
• and
• an interface configured to forward the formatted combined data signal to the transport network;
• wherein the multiplexing switch comprises a framer configured, for a frame of the combined data signal, to multiplex the first and second data signals by:
• allocating the first data signal to a portion of the frame reserved for the first data signal;
• and
• allocating the second data signal to a remaining portion of the frame.

An apparatus for switching data signals transmitted over a transport network;

• the apparatus comprising a processor and a memory, the memory containing instructions executable by the processor whereby the apparatus is operative to:
• receive a plurality of input data signals of a first signal type wherein the plurality of data signals of the first signal type comprises data signals exchanged between a Radio Equipment (RE) and a Radio Equipment Controller (REC);
• aggregate the plurality of input data signals into an aggregated first data signal;
• receive a second data signal of a second signal type different to the first signal type;
• multiplex the first data signal with the second data signal to form a combined data signal;
• and
• forward the combined data signal to the transport network;
• wherein multiplexing the first data signal with the second data signal comprises, for a frame of the combined data signal:
• allocating the first data signal to a portion of the frame reserved for the first data signal;
• and
• allocating the second data signal to a remaining portion of the frame.

A nontransitory computer readable storage medium comprising computer program instructions which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out a method for switching data signals transmitted over a transport network;

• the method comprising:
• receiving a plurality of input data signals of a first signal type, wherein the plurality of data signals of the first signal type comprises data signals exchanged between a Radio Equipment (RE) and a Radio Equipment Controller (REC);
• aggregating the plurality of input data signals into an aggregated first data signal;
• receiving a second data signal of a second signal type different to the first signal type;
• multiplexing the aggregated first data signal with the second data signal to form a combined data signal;
• and
• forwarding the combined data signal to the transport network;
• wherein multiplexing the first data signal with the second data signal comprises, for a frame of the combined data signal:
• allocating the first data signal to a portion of the frame reserved for the first data signal;
• and
• allocating the second data signal to a remaining portion of the frame.