Architectural Evolution And Novel Design Of Fiber-Wireless Access Networks

As the industrial trend is moving toward 5G wireless technology, the important role that optical fiber plays in high-speed mobile backhaul and fronthaul networks is becoming more essential. In this chapter, we introduce several key enabling technologies for 5G, with emphasis on the role of optical fibers in access networks. Existing and emerging fiber-wireless (Fi-Wi) access network architectures (e.g., macrocells, small cells, distributed antenna systems (DAS), and cloud radio access networks (C-RANs)) are reviewed. A novel Fi-Wi access network design based on cloud radio-over-fiber (cloud-RoF) architecture is also introduced and experimentally demonstrated.