Fiber/Free-Space Optics with Open Radio Access Networks Supplements the Coverage of Millimeter-Wave Beamforming for Future 5G and 6G Communication

• Published in: Fibers Vol. 13; no. 4; p. 39
• Main Authors: Yao, Cheng-Kai, Lin, Hsin-Piao, Cheng, Chiun-Lang, Chung, Ming-An, Lin, Yu-Shian, Wu, Wen-Bo, Chiang, Chun-Wei, Peng, Peng-Chun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.04.2025
• Subjects: 5G mobile communication; 6G mobile communication; Antenna arrays; Antennas; Antennas (Electronics); Architecture; Artificial intelligence; Barriers; Beamforming; Communication; Communications equipment; Cost effectiveness; Cost reduction; Equipment and supplies; Evaluation; Fiber optics; fiber/FSOs communication; Free space optics; Millimeter waves; mmW beamforming; Open architectures; open radio access network; Radiation; Radio; Receivers & amplifiers; Remote regions; Resource allocation; Rural areas; Signal reception; Software; Wireless networks; Taiwan
• ISSN: 2079-6439; 2079-6439
• DOI: 10.3390/fib13040039

Conceptually, this paper aims to help reduce the communication blind spots originating from the design of millimeter-wave (mmW) beamforming by deploying radio units of an open radio access network (O-RAN) with free-space optics (FSOs) as the backhaul and the fiber-optic link as the fronthaul. At fre...