Demonstration of a hybrid A-RoF/VLC system for beyond 5G applications

Abstract

This work reports the implementation of a fiber-optics and visible light communication (VLC)-based flexible optical distribution network for beyond the fifth generation of mobile networks (B5G) applications. The proposed hybrid architecture is composed of a 12.5-km single-mode fiber fronthaul based on the analog radio-over-fiber (A-RoF) technology, followed by a red, green, and blue (RGB)-based VLC link of 1.2 m. As a proof of concept, we experimentally demonstrate a successful deployment of a 5G hybrid A-RoF/VLC system without using pre-/post-equalization, digital pre-distortion, or individual filters for each color, by means of using a dichroic cube filter at the receiver side. The system performance is evaluated in terms of the root mean square error vector magnitude (<i>E</i> <i>V</i> <i>M</i> _{<i>R</i> <i>M</i> <i>S</i>} ), in accordance with the 3rd Generation Partnership Project requirements, and as a function of the light-emitting diodes' injected electrical power and signal bandwidth.