Wireless Communications
Photonic power technology offers key benefits for a variety of wireless network applications, including:
The traditional link between the Radio Base Station and the antenna assembly in mobile wireless networks has been copper coaxial cable. Mobile system integrators are now offering Fiber to the Antenna solutions in third generation (3G) networks to achieve lightning isolation, increased RF transmission distances without the use of amplifiers, and reduced installation cost.
Photonic Power permits this existing fiber bundle to be used to power the low noise amplifier (LNA) in the receive channel of the Radio Base Station. Photonic power eliminates the need for coaxial connections, line booster amplifiers, and lightning suppression
Time and location are key parameters used by wireless network providers for synchronization and frequency stability. A GPS receiver, co-located with every mobile base station, provides timing for synchronization of signals and, in some cases, provides stability inputs to a local frequency source. The GPS receive signal is transmitted from the outdoor to the indoor unit on coaxial cable. Photonic power eliminates the need for coaxial connections, line booster amplifiers, and lightning suppression, and permits longer cable runs with lower attenuation. In this approach, an all-fiber solution provides power and transmission of the RF signal over the same fiber bundle.
Today's mobile terminal user expects coverage anytime and anywhere. As a result, service providers must extend their coverage inside buildings, malls, airports, and convention centers to fill-in coverage "gaps." Most vendors are employing an RF over fiber solution to interconnect the indoor base station with the distributed antenna system. The optical signal is converted to an RF signal at the remote sites for transmission to the mobile terminals. Photonic power technology can power the remote antenna/amplifier over the same fiber bundle that transmits the RF signal to the distributed antenna assemblies. This approach is particularly advantageous where standard building power is not accessible at the location selected for maximum wireless coverage. Photonic power also provides a clean and isolated power source immune to electromagnetic interference.
Copper-to-Fiber Media Conversion
A significant amount of mobile network equipment is deployed on high voltage transmission towers. A high voltage area is one that is susceptible to a Ground Potential Rise (GPR) that can cause catastrophic failure to copper telecommunications lines, endangering both personnel and equipment. Fiber optic links are used to isolate telecommunications lines by replacing the copper cable with all-dielectric fiber cable in the high voltage areas.
Copper-to-fiber conversion electronics are used to transform the traffic from the copper media to the fiber media. Solar panels supply DC power for the electronics when local DC power is not available. Unlike solar panels, photonic power offers a continuous source of power for driving media conversion electronics without the need for backup batteries. It also offers lower maintenance costs and reduced total cost of ownership compared to use of solar panels.
Photonic power offers the following performance and cost advantages compared to use of solar panels for copper-to-fiber media conversion:
