Performance evaluation of OFDM and SC-QAM backhaul provision on FTTH optical access networks including multi-core fiber riser

Abstract

This paper proposes and evaluates experimentally the performance of single-carrier QAM (SC-QAM) and OFDM-QAM signals for next-generation backhaul over a deep fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network comprising up to 50 km SSMF combined with in-building transmission over 150 m of 4-core multi-core fiber in order to reach the cellular transmission equipment usually located in the roof. The data signals are generated with commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components using QAM modulation orders up to 256QAM. OFDM and SC-QAM transmission after 10-km SSMF PON and 150-m MCF in-building riser employing 256QAM provides 14.22-14.36 Gb/s per channel. 50-km PON is reached employing 128QAM signals. Channel aggregation is also investigated to increase the system capacity. The experimental results point out that aggregation of a second data channel is feasible employing the same components with a 3-dB received power penalty. The minimum received optical power level is evaluated experimentally for each signal. This approach enables operators to select the optimum modulation order depending on the distance and the received power level, providing up to 28.44 Gb/s per user with two 256QAM channels.