Integrated wireless backhaul over optical access networks

Recent technological advances and deployments are creating a new landscape in the access network and one in which radio-over-fiber technologies have the potential to play a key role. In the past, a separation between those with fiber in the access networks and those with wireless networks, the relatively low data-rate requirements of backhaul and the relatively large cell sites, have all combined to keep fiber deployment low in wireless backhaul. As fiber has penetrated the access network and the latest wireless standards have demanded smaller, higher bandwidth cells, fiber connectivity has become key. Choices remain as to whether fiber should be used just as a high data-rate backhaul path or if a transition to radio over fiber techniques can afford benefits. This paper will explore the network options available, how they can be integrated with existing access networks and how radio over fiber can be deployed to offer increase functionality. It will outline the challenges and opportunities for radio-over-fiber to play a role in supporting emerging distributed antenna (DAS) standards and techniques for enabling dynamic capacity and mobility management in converged optical/wireless networks.