A wireless relay controls backhaul in a data communication network. Relay user equipment attaches to a wireless base station coupled to a data network core and receives a first backhaul connection. An Ethernet switch attaches to a network gateway coupled to the data network core and establishes a second backhaul connection. The relay base station receives status data for the first backhaul connection through the wireless base station. The relay base station exchanges wireless user data with served user equipment. The relay base station selects one of the backhaul connections for the user data based on the status data of the first backhaul connection and exchanges the user data with the data network core over the selected one of the backhaul connections. The relay base station may receive and use status data for the second backhaul connection or the user data media type to select backhaul connections.