Final Report Summary - WISCON (Wireless and wireline service convergence in next generation optical access networks) SUMMARY The next generation of information technology demands both high capacity and mobility for applications such as high speed wireless access capable of supporting broadband services. The transport of wireless and wireline signals is converging into a common telecommunication infrastructure. In this document, we will present the Marie Curie Framework Program 7 project “Wireless and wireline service convergence in next generation optical access networks” (WISCON), which focuses on the conception and study of novel architectures for wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) optical multi-modulation format radio-over-fiber (RoF) systems; this is a promising solution to implement broadband seamless wireless -wireline access networks. 1. IntroductionNew services such as on-line gaming, HDTV-on-demand, and peer-to-peer connections are continuously overtaking any available bandwidth at the first-mile access network, driven by end users willing to enjoy connectivity everywhere-anytime. In order to cope with this demand, optical access networks based on passive optical networks (PON) have been deployed worldwide.Gigabit-capable passive optical network (GPON) and ethernet passive optical network (EPON) had experienced a great deployment success worldwide, whereas the upgrades 10Gbit/s solutions (i.e. XG-PON and 10G-EPON, respectively) are also penetrating the market. The demand is such that, recently wavelength division multiplexed passive optical network (TWDM-PON) has been approved by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) through the Full Service Access Network (FSAN) group. This evolution has been in essence evolutional rather than revolutional, maintaining cost performance over technical performance. These systems are envisaged to provide connectivity during the next 10 to 15 years to come. Next milestone for a society enjoying affordable communication available everywhere to everybody is the convergence of signal generation, detection and transport over a common optical fiber infrastructure for wireless and wireline broadband services [1-12]. For future broadband wireless applications, high radio frequency (RF) carriers in millimeter-wave band (30 GHz-300 GHz) will be required to meet the demand of wireless end-users. For instance, WiMAX subscribers are expected to hit 50 million by 2014. Furthermore, provision of broadband fixed services over fiber-to-the–customer-premises (FTTCP) links is expected to reach the 10 Gbit/s bit rate and beyond in a few years. Therefore, radio-over-fiber (RoF) technology, which jointly exploits the broadband of optical communications and mobility of wireless communications, is promising to pave the way for a seamless broadband experience for the end users. For example, WiFi and LTE/4G are now widely used as technology of choice for hot-spots in densely populated spots such as cafeterias or train stations.In order to support these developments, the “wireless and wireline service convergence in next generation optical access networks” (WISCON) project ran from 2011 to 2013. This project was financially supported by the Marie Curie Program under the framework program 7 (FP7). Marie Curie Fellowships are European research grants available to researchers regardless of their nationality or field of research, following a bottom up approach based on scientific excellence. 2. Objectives of WISCONFigure 1 shows the ultimate architecture pursued within WISCON: a central office (CO) feeding different clusters with RoF signals, employing wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) techniques, enabling high scalability and throughput. The CO generates the RoF signals and also routes them to the right cluster, either using passive or active approaches. The architecture relies on an optical distribution network (ODN) which brings fiber right next to the antenna site, avoiding copper transmission in any stage. One important feature of our proposed approach is versatile optical multi-modulation format RoF systems with robust transmission, high spectral efficiency and high dynamic range properties, not achievable by conventional intensity modulated systems alone. We focus as well on conceiving access nodes designs that support converged wireless and wireline service delivery with energy efficiency and efficient use of a common optical fibre access infrastructure. The stringent requirements of future communications links in terms of capacity, flexibility and multi-service support, motivate us to undertake a concise assessment of the ultimate achievable performance of wireline/wireless converged systems. The goal of this project is to theoretically and experimentally investigate the performance of multichannel, multimodulation formats RoF optical links for the transmission of wireless and wireline signals. The technical objectives of WISCON are: Novel techniques to photonically generate 60 to 90 GHz mm-wave signals. Distribution of high-bitrate mm-wave signals over a diversity of fibers. Radio-over-Fiber systems supporting dynamic allocation of channels.2. Technical conclusionsWISCON achieved many breakthroughs after successfully concluded in autumn 2013, including two experimental demonstrations of millimeter-wave signal generation using photonic technologies at 60- and 87.5-GHz and two bidirectional implementations operating at these frequencies over a hybrid optical-wireless-optical channel. Furthermore, WISCON served to provide training to few project degree students and to support the establishment of the Marie Curie IIF Fellow at the host institution. Documenti correlati final1-jjvo-wiscon-publishable-report-v1.pdf
