Free Space Optics (FSO), also known as Optical Wireless or Laser Link, is a technology that uses modulated visible or infrared (IR) light to transmit data through the air, achieving high-speed broadband communication over distances of several kilometres.

Like fibre, FSO uses lasers, but instead of transmitting through cables, it sends data through free space, offering fibre-like speeds without the high cost and delay of trenching. It requires no government licensing and can be deployed quickly wherever there’s a clear line of sight.

Current FSO systems support 100 Mbps to 2.5 Gbps, with lab research reaching beyond 160 Gbps. The technology is flexible, scalable, and suitable for a wide range of applications and network architectures.

Basic Principle of FSO

FSO works similarly to a TV remote control, using invisible, eye-safe infrared light beams to transmit data between two points. These beams, sent via low-power lasers, operate in the terahertz spectrum, with potential capacities up to 10 Gbps.

Straightforward to Deploy

FSO requires no licenses, has repeatedly demonstrated a rapid time to deployment, and has a low cost per bit compared to fixed wireless or the already discounted alternative of laying new fibre.

As an example, a CableFree system can be installed on tripods, indoors, in less than 15 minutes using CableFree’s simple and elegant alignment system. More importantly, installs won’t be delayed, blocked, or cancelled because the landlord won’t cooperate in time to meet the customer’s needs.

Complete range of FSO Products

Point-to-point FSO systems are available in various bandwidths, are protocol-, topology-, and architecture-transparent, and can be used in numerous applications, according to customer needs. The most common applications are campus and last-mile connectivity, backhaul for PCS and WiFi networks, route-diversity for mission critical links and temporary deployments. Specialist applications include video and broadcast networks, connectivity for remote PBX shelves and distributed cellular antenna systems.

In each case, the FSO link replaces a fibre connection with a free space optics link. All CableFree products operate at Layer 1 so there are no issues connecting to any piece of internetworking equipment, be it a switch, a router, a multiplexer or other hardware. Currently available CableFree products operate from 1Mb/s up to 1.5Gb/s and provide connectivity options for all speeds in between, including E1/T1, E3/DS3/STS-1, Fast Ethernet, OC3 TM/SONET, 270-540Mb video, OC12 ATM/SONET and Gigabit Ethernet, as well as custom/proprietary interface speeds.

Using CableFree products Service Providers, Cellular Operators and Enterprises can provide high speed communications quickly, affordably and with no impact to either their existing customer premises and metro network equipment or their management systems.

For Further Information

For more information on this Primer for Carrier Class FSO, please Contact Us