Design Framework for mm-Wave Frequency Radio-over-Fiber Broadband Wireless Communication

Radio over Fiber (RoF) systems have emerged as a cost effective solution for future multigigabit wireless networks operating at millimeter wave (mm-wave) bands. Such networks are composed of three subsystems: a central station, an optical distribution network, and several remote base stations. The design of an RoF land access network is a very knowledge-rich domain, due to the particularities and complexity of each network subsystem and their interrelation, as well as the fast evolution of the art. This paper presents a design framework to support engineers in the conceptual and preliminary design of a mm-wave frequency RoF broadband access network. The design methodology is validated in a case study of an in-vehicle RoF system for specific capacity and cost requirements.