  Integrated access and backhaul (IAB) frameworks for 5G new radio (NR) as a
cost-effective alternative to the wired backhaul have been investigated by
3GPP. A promising solution for this framework is the integration of full duplex
(FD) technologies to enhance the spectral efficiency and make an efficient use
of the network resources-termed FD IAB. However, FD IAB presents significant
technical challenges, such as self-interference (SI) in the IAB framework,
which may cast doubt over the feasibility of FD IAB. In this article, we
present a brief tutorial of the FD IAB framework and its enabling technologies.
We then numerically evaluate and discuss the link-level SI reduction and the
system-level downlink throughput performance of the FD IAB. Finally, we
validate the feasibility of FD IAB using 28 GHz hardware prototype measurements
of propagation-domain SI suppression. Our numerical evaluations and prototype
measurements confirm that the FD IAB serves as a promising framework for 5G NR.
