Radio-Over-Fiber Access Architecture for Integrated Broadband Wireless Services

Abstract

This paper introduces two radio-over-fiber (RoF) architectures for the future broadband optical-wireless access network-all-band RoF and band-mapped 60-GHz RoF that can be integrated in ultra-dense wavelength division multiplexing passive optical network (UDWDM-PON). Legacy wireless services and multi-gigabit millimeter-wave (mm-wave) applications are integrated and delivered simultaneously under one shared infrastructure. With centralized system control and signal processing, the proposed systems provide cost-effective and protocol-transparent solutions for the next-generation multi-service bundle in heterogeneous networks (HetNets). In the all-band RoF network where wireless services are kept at their original carrier frequencies, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, and 60-GHz high-speed mm-wave services are transmitted based on subcarrier multiplexing (SCM) and dual-wavelength heterodyne beating techniques in avoidance of optical filters and large-bandwidth optoelectronic components. In the indoor environment, the band-mapped mm-wave RoF design is illustrated with real-time analog television signal, Wi-Fi, and high-speed digital baseband data-all of which are transmitted over unified optical and air links. By mapping various wireless signals into 60-GHz sub-bands, the novel architecture achieves higher spectral efficiency and lower power consumption.