Broadband

Free space optics (FSO) — fiber-through-the-sky

Free space optical (FSO) communication is voice or data information transmitted ‘point-to-point’ simultaneously, (full duplex) at frequencies in the near infrared band. The transmission can be of very short range. For example, a TV remote control that is good for several meters across a room. For wide area networks, the SonaBeam solution from fSona is capable of covering several kilometers across a city, depending on the prevailing atmospheric conditions.

WHY DO WE NEED FSO?

FSO ‘wireless’ eliminates the first and last mile bottleneck to provide high-speed, low cost, license-free connectivity. FSO is “fiber-through-the-sky,” and would be required for the following reasons:

• Backbone/fiber ring and high-speed LAN capacity is well ahead of first and last mile connections.
• Over 90 percent of all office buildings are not yet served by a high capacity connection.
• Fiber has capacity to serve the demand, but cannot meet the need for rapid or low-cost deployment.
• Wireless technologies such as spread-spectrum radio and microwave, have started to fill the gaps in the first/last mile, but suffer from major issues of licensing cost and time, congestion interference, low-bandwidth transmission and availability during rain.

Free-space optics is…

• A layer one, protocol and bandwidth transparent alternative to other connectivity methods.
• A powerful and flexible network ‘gap’ filling and last mile access tool for carriers/service providers to rapidly capture customers and deliver high speeds.
• Top-down design methodology.
• Network interoperability and user interface needs key focus.
• Patented and trade secret protected technologies.
• Strict compliance to design to cost requirements.
• Designed for high volume manufacture. Bellcore/Telcordia philosophy integral to design and qualification process.