End-to-End Demonstration of Fiber-Wireless Fronthaul Networks Using a Hybrid Multi-IF-Over-Fiber and Radio-Over-Fiber System

Abstract

This paper reports an end-to-end demonstration of a fiber-wireless mobile fronthaul (MFH) network based on hybrid intermediate-frequency-over-fiber (IFoF) and radio-over-fiber (RoF) links using a 28-GHz millimeter-wave (MMW) band. We successfully transmitted 24 64-QAM OFDM signals with a total bandwidth of 9.12 GHz over 20-km broadband IFoF, 1-km narrowband IFoF, 500-m RoF, and 10-m free-space links with an aggregate capacity of up to 34.2 Gbps, which complies with the required peak data capacity of IMT-2020. A digital demultiplexer was exploited to flexibly perform channel selection and frequency conversion. The obtained results show the feasibility of implementing fiber-wireless systems with the hybrid IFoF/RoF links for future mobile fronthaul networks.

A Survey on Research Activities for Deploying Cell Free Massive MIMO towards Beyond 5G

“…If applying different IF to convert each signal streams for MIMO transmission it can be multiplexed by FDM in a single optical fiber, and improves efficiency [68]. In [69], it is demonstrated that 24 streams of 400 MHz bandwidth 5G NR signals are successfully transmitted, and achieved 34.2 Gbps throughput with 9.12 GHz bandwidth over 20 km links. However, the number of the streams corresponding antennas is limited depending on the supporting bandwidth of the devices such as the electrical to optical (E/O) converter and optical to electrical (O/E) converter.…”

Evaluation of the Digital Data Performance Transmission on a Fiber-Radio System

“…In [7], a system for the transmission of energy through an optical fiber is proposed. In [8], the functionality of a fiber-radio scheme with different simultaneous transmission frequencies using a digital multiplexer for the selection of frequencies and channels is demonstrated. In [9], a fiber-radio scheme is characterized where a microwave signal provided by a receiving antenna is supplied to an optical modulator.…”

Optical CS-DSB Schemes for 5G mmW Fronthaul Seamless Transmission

“…It is worth to mention that no antenna transmission has been realized in [15] or [16]. The low frequency DML was used as well as a low cost solution for intermediate frequency (IF) over fiber (IFoF) transmission in [17], where authors experimentally demonstrated end-to-end fiber wireless fronthaul. The proposed approach introduced a broadband IFoF transmission combined with narrow band IFoF by using the low-frequency DML and classic analog RoF approach utilizing CW laser and MZM for 28 GHz RoF transmission with a seamless 10 m long antenna channel.…”