12.5 Gbit/s VCSEL-based transmission over legacy MMFs by centre-launching technique

1.3 μm vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL)-based transmission in legacy standard multimode fibre (MMF) by using the mode-field matched centre-launching technique is experimentally demonstrated. A transmission bit rate of 12.5 Gbit/s is realised at 1.3 μm by direct modulation of a VCSEL suitable for high-speed applications. Performances without significant penalties, also compared with singlemode fibre (SMF) propagation, are measured up to 10 km MMF coils, simply connected by fusion splicing, without SMF patchcords. The explored VCSEL-based solution can be exploited for the low-cost development of next-generation multi- Gbit/s LANs over already installed MMFs.