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Hybrid fiber-to-the-x and free space optics for high bandwidth access networks

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Abstract

The authors demonstrate an implementation of hybrid fiber-to-the-x (FTTx) and free space optical (FSO) technologies as another alternative solution to bring light-speed performance to the residential users. A simulation experiment was performed with a 20 km single-mode fiber spanning from the Central Office to 1:32 splitter, before the signal propagated through the air to FSO receivers which were individually equipped with an Optical Network Unit (ONU). A downstream performance of the video signal transmitted at 1550 nm wavelength with a bit rate of 1 Gbps was studied under different weather conditions. The results show that for an acceptable bit error rate of 10−9, 32 ONUs are supportable at a combined FSO: FTTx distance ratio of 20:4.8, 20:2, and 20:1.4 km during clear weather, average and heavy rain, respectively.

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Abbreviations

FTTx:

Fiber-to-the-x

FSO:

Free space optical

OLT:

Optical line terminal

SMF:

Single-mode fiber

ONU:

Optical network unit

PON:

Passive optical networks

GPON:

Gigabit PON

EPON:

Ethernet PON

WiFi:

Wireless fidelity

WiMAX:

Worldwide interoperability for microwave access

LOS:

Line-of-sight

CO:

Central office

P2MP:

Point-to-multipoint

TDM:

Time division multiplexing

DFB:

Distributed feedback

FCC:

Federal communications commission

NRZ:

Non-return-to-zero

PRBS:

Pseudorandom bit sequence

MZM:

Mach Zehnder modulator

EDFA:

Erbium-doped fiber amplifier

ITU-T:

International telecommunication union—telecommunication

ITU-R:

International telecommunication union—radiocommunication

APD:

Avalanche photodiode

BER:

Bit error rate

ROP:

Received optical power

SNR:

Signal-to-noise ratio

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Correspondence to S. B. Ahmad Anas.

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Ahmad Anas, S.B., Hamat, F.H., Hitam, S. et al. Hybrid fiber-to-the-x and free space optics for high bandwidth access networks. Photon Netw Commun 23, 33–39 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11107-011-0333-z

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