Retrofitting FSO Systems in Existing RF Infrastructure: A Non-Zero-Sum Game Technology

Abderrahmen Trichili, Amr Ragheb, Dmitrii Briantcev, Maged A. Esmail, Majid Altamimi, Islam Ashry, Boon S. Ooi, Saleh Alshebeili, Mohamed-Slim Alouini

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

Progress in optical wireless communication (OWC) has unleashed the potential to transmit data in an ultra-fast manner without incurring large investments and bulk infrastructure. OWC includes wireless data transmissions in three optical sub-bands; ultraviolet, visible, and infrared. This paper discusses installing infrared OWC, known as free space optics (FSO), systems on top of installed radio frequency (RF) networks for outdoor applications to benefit from the reliability of RF links and the unlicensed broad optical spectrum, and the large data rates carried by laser beams propagating in free space. We equally review commercially available solutions and the hardware requirements for RF and FSO technology co-existence. The potential of hybrid RF/FSO for space communication is further discussed. Finally, open problems and future research directions are presented.
Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1-1
Number of pages1
JournalIEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021

Bibliographical note

KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2021-11-29
Acknowledgements: Figure 1 was produced by Heno Hwang, a scientific illustrator at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
(KAUST).

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