Reconfigurable Radio-Over-Fiber Networks: Multiple-Access Functionality Directly Over the Optical Layer

This paper explores different functionalities that can be implemented directly over the optical layer, paving the way for the future for converged wireless and wired services optical networks. Wireless technologies operating over optical networks mainly employ radio-over-fiber (RoF) technologies, which effectively help to manipulate microwave and millimeter-wave band signals. We have experimented with different generation technologies in order to achieve distribution of microwave and millimeter- wave signals operating at different bands, ranging from a few gigahertz up to 60 GHz. We will show how these technologies, in combination with novel devices, can be used to enable networks in which dynamic channel allocation and peer-to-peer are carried entirely in the optical domain. Furthermore, since wireless and wired services fall within the domain of optical-access networks, we will demonstrate the performance of basic functionalities, such as distribution, transmission, and recovery at the local-access points.