Millimeter-wave enabled PAM-4 data transmission over hybrid FSO-MMPOF link for access networks

In this paper, we propose a full duplex architecture based on a hybrid link composed of free space optics (FSO) and multimode plastic optical fiber (MMPOF) for short-range wireless access networks. The proposed architecture employs mode group division multiplexing (MGDM) and wavelength reuse techniques to transmit data between central unit (CU) and radio access units (RAUs). An optical frequency comb source to generate multiple optical sidebands is realized using a single laser source to provide 60 GHz millimeter-wave (mm-wave) signals at each RAU by simultaneously transmitting PAM-4 signal on linearly polarized (LP) modes of each optical sideband. Data rate of 2$$\times$$ × 12 Gbps at mm-wave frequency of 60 GHz is achieved for both downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) transmissions. The transmission of 2$$\times$$ × 12 Gbps PAM-4 signal over hybrid FSO-MMPOF link is investigated at different values of refractive index structure parameter ($$C_n^2$$ C n 2 ) by employing log-normal (LN) FSO channel model to support three RAUs in a ring topology. The acceptable receiver sensitivities below −5 and −0.6 dBm for DL and UL transmissions are achieved, respectively. The proposed hybrid architecture can be a potential candidate for future communication networks.