Super-FM and analogue-to-digital-conversion technologies for next-generation wireless access in optical fibres

Fibre-in-the-loop (FITL) or hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) networks are the ideal transmission infrastructure for next-generation wireless communication networks, such as digital microcells, personal communication networks (PCNs) and wireless local area networks (LANs). In this paper, the feasibility of two cost-effective optical fibre transmission technologies, super-frequency-modulation (FM) and analogue-to-digital conversion, for wireless access in broadband optical fibres are experimentally demonstrated. Associated circuit and system implementation issues are investigated. Furthermore, by using a statistical model of multiple access in different microcellular environments, we find that both transmission technologies can meet the dynamic range requirements with a significant safe margin.