Free Space Optical Communication (FSO): Enabling Connectivity in rural/remote areas in India
Free space optic (FSO)
communication is a line of sight technology that currently enables optical
transmission up to 3 Gbps of data communications through the air, allowing
optical connectivity without deploying fiber-optic cable or securing spectrum
licenses. Such propagation of optical capacity through air requires light,
which can be focused, by using light sources either light emitting diodes
(LEDS) or LASERS (light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation).
FSO
technology is relatively simple. It is based on connectivity between FSO units,
each consisting of an optical transmitter & receiver to provide full duplex
(bi-directional) capability. FSO technology requires no Spectrum licensing.
As the requirement for high
speed connectivity increases, service providers are looking for reasonably
priced, high bandwidth alternative to deliver service in shortest possible time.
FSO offers service providers a tool to generate revenue and provide enhanced
services at a reasonable cost. FSO offers the following benefits;-
- Quick customer acquisition:
FSO products are quickly and
easily installed. This allows service providers to acquire target customers
very quickly in comparison to fiber installs.
- Increase network footprint:
FSO can be used
to bring multiple off net buildings on net, thus increasing the reach of
service providers at a fraction of the time and a reasonable cost.
·
Access to
new markets:
FSO products allow
service providers to acquire target customers very quickly in comparison to
fiber installs.
·
Increase
profit level on existing capital:
FSO allows service
providers to extend their existing networks (fiber or LMDS) without the need
for additional training, equipment, or licensing costs.
·
Leverage
existing capital budgets:
FSO
products allow service providers to gain significant leverage in their capital
by lowering the cost of "wiring" buildings with high bandwidth
access. This provides them an acceptable return on their capital investment on
a lower rate of monthly telecommunications revenue.
·
Eliminate
stranded capital:
The ease of installation and
flexible reuse or redeployment of FSO products eliminates the risk stranded
capital for fiber access to a particular building. When a customer vacates a
building, the same FSO equipments can be moved and deployed to provide service
to a customer in another location, offering minimum expenditure to service
provider.
FSO Applications:
FSO has
several applications are as follows
·
Metro network extension:
FSO can be
deployed to extend an existing network or to connect new networks. The
flexibility of FSO allows it to be implemented in many applications, such as
LAN-to-LAN connectivity, Storage Area Networks and intra-campus connections.
·
Last-mile
connectivity
These are
the links that reach the end user. They can be deployed in point-to-point,
point-to-multipoint, ring or mesh connections.
·
Fiber
complement:
FSO may also be deployed as
a redundant link to back up fiber. Most
operators deploying fiber for business applications connect two fibers to
secure a reliable service plus back up. Operators could opt to deploy an FSO
system as the redundant link.
·
Disaster
management
FSO can be used effectively
deployed for disaster management. In the event of any fiber break, FSO can be
used to quickly restore the network.
By
Mr. AJAY SHARMA
Asso. Prof.
Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering
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