A system for providing small cell backhaul communications includes a small cell backhaul network including a plurality of small cell network nodes each including transceivers enabling communication with at least two other small cell network nodes. A software defined network (SDN) controller controls the transceivers at each of the plurality of small cell network nodes to establish link configurations between the plurality of small cell network nodes of the small cell backhaul network. The SDN controller implements an optimizer module for managing operation the small cell backhaul network. The optimizer module uses an OpenFlow protocol to gather wireless and power consumption statistics.