Midhaul

In telecom networks, Midhaul is the transport segment between the Distributed Unit (DU) and the Central Unit (CU) in a split RAN architecture, carrying the F1 interface. Together with fronthaul (DU-RU) and backhaul (CU-Core), it forms the three-tier transport model for disaggregated RAN.

Categories: Radio Access NetworkCore Network

Midhaul in context

The radio access network is where mobile devices attach to the operator's infrastructure. Attacks in this layer include IMSI catching, rogue base stations and downgrade attacks; defenses rest on mutual authentication, integrity-protected signaling and Open RAN supply-chain hygiene.

The mobile core carries subscriber sessions, mobility and policy. In 4G it is the EPC (MME, HSS, S/PGW); in 5G it is the Service-Based Architecture with AMF, SMF, UPF, AUSF, UDM and the NRF.

To place Midhaul in the wider telecom-security picture, review 5G, 5G SA, 5G NSA, A5/3, AMF and AMPS — each entry cross-references back to this page so you can walk the topic in either direction.

Related terms

More from the TelcoSec Glossary

Browse the full TelcoSec Glossary, the Ultimate Guide to Mobile Network Security, or the P1 Arsenal of telecom-security tools.