Free Space Optics (FSO): A Promising Solution to First and Last Mile Connectivity (FLMC) in the Communication Networks

Abstract

We are running in the communication era demanding a very large bandwidth for high speed applications. Among the available bandwidth technologies, the optical fiber seems the most appropriate and best fit. The optical fiber technology laid down at the backbone networks has almost replaced the preexisting coax cables. To extend fiber connectivity to the end user, especially in congested and remote areas is quite a difficult task in the context to cost and installation time. Therefore, the first and last mile connectivity (FLMC) is still a bottleneck in extending the beauty of optical fiber to the edge of the network. In most of the applications, the connectivity from backbone to the end user is carried out with the radio or copper links having a much lesser capacity than optical fiber. Keeping in view the nature and size of emerging applications, the FLMC needs to be addressed with the appropriate technology. To address this issue, the emerging solution is optical wireless communication like free space optics (FSO). The FSO is coming as a more promising alternative due to its properties like huge bandwidth and less cost. In this paper, we discuss the possible solution to first and last mile connectivity by FSO links and hence the gap between the optical core and the edge of network can be bridged by FSO communication in reliable and cost effective manner. The significance of the proposed work gives an everlasting impression of using FSO communication in FLMC over the existing ones. The ever increasing demand of high bandwidth can be meticulously met with the FSO communication. The simulation results show that the desirable performance is achieved and is analyzed with performance indicators like Q-factor and BER. Index Terms: Free space optics, bandwidth requirement, optical wireless, first and last mile connectivity.