A wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) access network using high-speed free-space optical (FSO) communication for the distribution link is proposed. Combining FSO communication with optical fiber can reduce the system cost and provide high-bandwidth access in regions where optical fiber installation is problematic. The WDM channels suffer from interchannel crosstalk, while the FSO communication performance in a clear atmosphere is limited by atmospherically induced scintillation. These impairments, plus the amplified spontaneous emission noise from optical amplification, combine in a potentially problematic way, particularly in the upstream direction, which is investigated here. This turbulenceaccentuated crosstalk effect is considered for the cases of 1) signal turbulent but crosstalk not and 2) crosstalk turbulent but signal not. Error floors are obtained in each case. The FSO link length that can be supported in the general case of the hybrid network is investigated.Index Terms-Amplified spontaneous emission; Atmospheric turbulence; Fiber and free-space optical communications; Interchannel crosstalk; Wavelength division multiplexing.

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Wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) has been proposed for fibre, intersatellite, free space and indoor optical communication systems. Digital pulse position modulation (DPPM) is a more power efficient modulation format than on-off keying (OOK) and a strong contender for the modulation of free space systems. While DPPM obtains this advantage in exchange for a bandwidth expansion WDM systems using it are still potentially attractive, particularly for moderate coding levels. However WDM systems are susceptible to interchannel crosstalk and modelling this in a WDM DPPM system is necessary. Models of varying complexity, based on simplifying assumptions, are presented and evaluated for the case of a single crosstalk wavelength. For a single crosstalk, results can be straightforwardly obtained by artificially imposing the computationally convenient constraint that frames (and thus slots also) align (FA). Multiple crosstalk effects are additionally investigated, for the most practically relevant 2 cases of modest coding level, and using both simulation and analytical methods. In general, DPPM maintains its sensitivity advantage over OOK even in the presence of crosstalk while predicting lower power penalty at low coding level in WDM systems.

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