A 5G C-RAN Optical Fronthaul Architecture for Hotspot Areas Using OFDM-Based Analog IFoF Waveforms
Analog fronthauling is currently promoted as a bandwidth and energy-efficient solution that can meet the requirements of the Fifth Generation (5G) vision for low latency, high data rates and energy efficiency. In this paper, we propose an analog optical fronthaul 5G architecture, fully aligned with...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2019-09-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/9/19/4059 |
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| author | Charoula Mitsolidou Christos Vagionas Agapi Mesodiakaki Pavlos Maniotis George Kalfas Chris G. H. Roeloffzen Paul W. L. van Dijk Ruud M. Oldenbeuving Amalia Miliou Nikos Pleros |
| author_facet | Charoula Mitsolidou Christos Vagionas Agapi Mesodiakaki Pavlos Maniotis George Kalfas Chris G. H. Roeloffzen Paul W. L. van Dijk Ruud M. Oldenbeuving Amalia Miliou Nikos Pleros |
| author_sort | Charoula Mitsolidou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Analog fronthauling is currently promoted as a bandwidth and energy-efficient solution that can meet the requirements of the Fifth Generation (5G) vision for low latency, high data rates and energy efficiency. In this paper, we propose an analog optical fronthaul 5G architecture, fully aligned with the emerging Centralized-Radio Access Network (C-RAN) concept. The proposed architecture exploits the wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) technique and multicarrier intermediate-frequency-over-fiber (IFoF) signal generation per wavelength in order to satisfy the demanding needs of hotspot areas. Particularly, the fronthaul link employs photonic integrated circuit (PIC)-based WDM optical transmitters (Txs) at the baseband unit (BBU), while novel reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers (ROADMs) cascaded in an optical bus are used at the remote radio head (RRH) site, to facilitate reconfigurable wavelength switching functionalities up to 4 wavelengths. An aggregate capacity of 96 Gb/s has been reported by exploiting two WDM links carrying multi-IF band orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signals at a baud rate of 0.5 Gbd with sub-carrier (SC) modulation of 64-QAM. All signals exhibited error vector magnitude (EVM) values within the acceptable 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) limits of 8%. The longest reach to place the BBU away from the hotspot was also investigated, revealing acceptable EVM performance for fiber lengths up to 4.8 km. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T04:00:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-02282cf6852b414193f9abd8ddbcaa3b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T04:00:38Z |
| publishDate | 2019-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-02282cf6852b414193f9abd8ddbcaa3b2022-12-21T20:36:40ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172019-09-01919405910.3390/app9194059app9194059A 5G C-RAN Optical Fronthaul Architecture for Hotspot Areas Using OFDM-Based Analog IFoF WaveformsCharoula Mitsolidou0Christos Vagionas1Agapi Mesodiakaki2Pavlos Maniotis3George Kalfas4Chris G. H. Roeloffzen5Paul W. L. van Dijk6Ruud M. Oldenbeuving7Amalia Miliou8Nikos Pleros9Department of Informatics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceDepartment of Informatics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceDepartment of Informatics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceDepartment of Informatics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceDepartment of Informatics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceLioniX International B.V., 7500 AL Enschede, The NetherlandsLioniX International B.V., 7500 AL Enschede, The NetherlandsLioniX International B.V., 7500 AL Enschede, The NetherlandsDepartment of Informatics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceDepartment of Informatics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceAnalog fronthauling is currently promoted as a bandwidth and energy-efficient solution that can meet the requirements of the Fifth Generation (5G) vision for low latency, high data rates and energy efficiency. In this paper, we propose an analog optical fronthaul 5G architecture, fully aligned with the emerging Centralized-Radio Access Network (C-RAN) concept. The proposed architecture exploits the wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) technique and multicarrier intermediate-frequency-over-fiber (IFoF) signal generation per wavelength in order to satisfy the demanding needs of hotspot areas. Particularly, the fronthaul link employs photonic integrated circuit (PIC)-based WDM optical transmitters (Txs) at the baseband unit (BBU), while novel reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers (ROADMs) cascaded in an optical bus are used at the remote radio head (RRH) site, to facilitate reconfigurable wavelength switching functionalities up to 4 wavelengths. An aggregate capacity of 96 Gb/s has been reported by exploiting two WDM links carrying multi-IF band orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signals at a baud rate of 0.5 Gbd with sub-carrier (SC) modulation of 64-QAM. All signals exhibited error vector magnitude (EVM) values within the acceptable 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) limits of 8%. The longest reach to place the BBU away from the hotspot was also investigated, revealing acceptable EVM performance for fiber lengths up to 4.8 km.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/9/19/40595g networksanalog intermediate-frequency-over-fiberoptical fronthaulmulticarrier communicationofdmpic-based transmitterroadm |
| spellingShingle | Charoula Mitsolidou Christos Vagionas Agapi Mesodiakaki Pavlos Maniotis George Kalfas Chris G. H. Roeloffzen Paul W. L. van Dijk Ruud M. Oldenbeuving Amalia Miliou Nikos Pleros A 5G C-RAN Optical Fronthaul Architecture for Hotspot Areas Using OFDM-Based Analog IFoF Waveforms Applied Sciences 5g networks analog intermediate-frequency-over-fiber optical fronthaul multicarrier communication ofdm pic-based transmitter roadm |
| title | A 5G C-RAN Optical Fronthaul Architecture for Hotspot Areas Using OFDM-Based Analog IFoF Waveforms |
| title_full | A 5G C-RAN Optical Fronthaul Architecture for Hotspot Areas Using OFDM-Based Analog IFoF Waveforms |
| title_fullStr | A 5G C-RAN Optical Fronthaul Architecture for Hotspot Areas Using OFDM-Based Analog IFoF Waveforms |
| title_full_unstemmed | A 5G C-RAN Optical Fronthaul Architecture for Hotspot Areas Using OFDM-Based Analog IFoF Waveforms |
| title_short | A 5G C-RAN Optical Fronthaul Architecture for Hotspot Areas Using OFDM-Based Analog IFoF Waveforms |
| title_sort | 5g c ran optical fronthaul architecture for hotspot areas using ofdm based analog ifof waveforms |
| topic | 5g networks analog intermediate-frequency-over-fiber optical fronthaul multicarrier communication ofdm pic-based transmitter roadm |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/9/19/4059 |
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