Evolution in Broadband Backhaul Networks

What is it about?

Backhaul networks connect base stations to core networks in mobile cellular networks. Free space optical (FSO) communications is the technology that use the laser diode to transmit data over atmosphere. It has many advantages such as the high data rates, the license-free operation, the bandwidth scalability, the cost-effectiveness, and no interference with the radio-frequency transmission. High altitude platform (HAP) is a vehicle situated above clouds at the typical height of 17 to 25 kilometers. In our work, we propose to use a HAP as a relaying node for FSO system to implement an effective broadband backhaul network.

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Why is it important?

The Earth is suffering many disasters such as earthquakes, floods, fire forests, and so on. These disasters can interrupt communication networks. With the help of HAP-based relaying FSO systems, the smooth connection in communication networks can be maintained to support disaster relief and minimize human and property damages. In addition, this system with the large coverage of HAP can be implemented in remote areas to help everybody access Internet. There are two kinds of relaying techniques which can be used at HAP including electrical relaying and all-optical relaying. In previous studies, the author just applied electrical relaying to FSO systems. However, this method limited the data transfer rate of FSO systems due to the appearance of optical/electrical/optical conversion components. In opposite, all-optical relaying will process data in optical domain directly without complex optoelectronics components. Hence, we propose to use the all-optical relaying technique at HAP to make use of advantages of FSO systems in this work.

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