Free - space Optical Wireless for Backhaul in 5G Networks

移动的无线网络允许个人之间几乎即时的连接，并允许企业为世界各地的客户提供服务。 由于地理位置广阔，加拿大比大多数国家更依赖无线移动的网络提供的连接。**该提案开发了允许扩展下一代（5G）蜂窝网络的技术。 这些5G网络将通过部署密集的基站网络来为预期的用户爆炸提供服务。 实现这些网络的一个关键困难是需要提供从每个基站到中心节点的高数据速率、低延迟回程连接。 虽然光纤解决方案是首选，但它们安装成本高，而且并不总是可用的。此外，用于回程的集中射频微波链路考虑到其许可证的需要、所需的高数据速率和每单位带宽的成本，往往并不理想。在TELUS的支持下，该提案开发了一种基于自由空间光（FSO）通信的替代回程技术。 FSO通信是指通过调制的可见光或红外（IR）光波段发射通过大气传输信息。FSO对于最后一英里宽带连接特别有前途，因为它可以以相对较低的成本将高速光纤骨干网络扩展到用户的场所，因为不需要频谱许可。 拟议研究项目的总体目标是开发工具，允许像TELUS这样的服务提供商有效地部署FSO技术，以在5G网络中提供回程。 这需要对以下方面进行基础研究：（a）混合RF-FSO链路的建模和算法，（B）FSO回程和中继的优化网络规划，（c）使用FSO技术的基站协调，以及（d）原型实现。

Mobile wireless networks permit near instant connectivity between individuals and allow businesses serve customers world wide. Canada, given its immense geography, is more dependent than most countries on the connectivity that wireless mobile networks provide.**This proposal develops enabling technologies to permit the expansion of next generation (5G) cellular networks. These 5G networks will service the expected explosion of users by deploying a dense network of basestations. A key difficulty in the realization of these networks is the need to provide high data rate, low latency backhaul connections from each basestation to a central node. Although fiber solutions are preferred, they are expensive to install and not always available. In addition, focused radio-frequency (RF) microwave links for backhaul are often not ideal considering their need for licensing, the high data rates required and the cost per unit bandwidth.**With the support of TELUS, this proposal develops an alternative backhaul technology based on free-space optical (FSO) communications. FSO communication refers to the transmission of information via modulated visible or infrared (IR) optical band emissions through the atmosphere. FSO is particularly promising for last-mile broadband connectivity as it can virtually extend the high speed fiber backbone network to the subscriber's premises at comparatively low cost since spectrum licensing is not required. The overall goal of the proposed research project is to develop tools to allow service providers, like TELUS, to effectively deploy FSO technologies to provide backhaul in 5G networks. This requires fundamental research on (a) the modeling and algorithms of hybrid RF-FSO links, (b) optimized network planning for FSO backhaul and relaying, (c) basestation coordination using FSO techniques, and (d) prototype implementations.******