Comparison of 5G Wireless Backhaul Technologies

The growing number of connected devices and emerging 5G use cases demand backhaul solutions that are flexible, scalable, and easy to deploy. While fiber and microwave remain common, their limitations in mobility highlight the need for wireless alternatives. This work compares three approaches based on 5G New Radio (NR): Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB), emulated IAB, and Wireless Access Backhaul (WAB). After introducing their concepts and architectures, this document presents their implementation in an OpenAirInterface (OAI)-based testbed and evaluates their performance under comparable conditions. The goal is to provide a balanced analysis of these options, outlining their main advantages and limitations to guide the selection of suitable backhaul strategies.