Performance evaluation of Free Space Optical Communication as Backhauling Network

Abstract

Free Space Optical (FSO) communication systems rely on laser technology to establish direct line-of-sight connections, providing optical bandwidth connectivity. FSO offers several advantages, including higher bandwidth compared to Radio Frequency transmission networks, no licensing requirements, and low installation costs. However, the FSO communication system is particularly vulnerable to weather conditions. Factors such as haze and fog significantly affect signal propagation, posing challenges to its widespread deployment as a backhauling network. The study  compares the performance of a  single-channel system with a proposed double channel FSO system in meeting the growing demand for high capacity and extended transmission distances in telecom backhaul networks. The performance metrics used were the minimum Bit Error Rate and Quality values across various path lengths, data rates, and wavelengths. During the evaluation, the maximum path length and data rate system capacity for optimal system performance and quality signal transmission were identified. The results revealed that in clear weather conditions under the maximum required BER and the minimum Q values of  and 6 respectively, the proposed double FSO system achieved a transmission capacity of up to 10Gbps over a maximum path length of 14 km. The achieved result represents an increase in distance by 46% compared to the single-channel setup. These findings underscore the potential of the double channel FSO communication system to transform communication infrastructure, in applications with transmission distance demand of less than 14 km.