[1] Oftentimes, CPRI links are used to carry data between cell sites/remote radio heads and base stations/baseband units.
[2] The purpose of CPRI is to allow replacement of a copper or coax cable connection between a radio transceiver (used example for mobile-telephone communication and typically located in a tower) and a base station/baseband unit[3] (typically located at the ground nearby), so the connection can be made to a remote and more convenient location.
[4] This connection (often referred to as the Fronthaul network) can be a fiber to an installation where multiple remote base stations may be served.
The fiber end is connected with the Small Form-factor Pluggable (SFP) transceiver device.
[5] The companies working to define the specification include Ericsson AB, Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd, NEC Corporation and Nokia.