Systems and methods disclosed herein describe a centralized-processing cloud-based RAN (C-RAN or cloud-RAN) architecture that offers reduced front-haul data-rate requirements compared to common-public-radio-interface (CPRI) based C-RAN architectures. Base-band physical-layer processing can be divided between a BBU Pool and an enhanced RRH (eRRH). A frequency-domain compression approach that exploits LTE signal redundancy and user scheduling information can be used at the eRRH to significantly reduce front-haul data-rate requirements. Uniform scalar quantization and variable-rate Huffman coding in the frequency-domain can be applied in a compression approach based on the user scheduling information wherein a lossy compression is followed by a lossless compression.