Multicore Fiber Scenarios Supporting Power Over Fiber in Radio Over Fiber Systems

Abstract

We propose the integration of power over fiber in the next generation 5G radio access network front-haul solutions based on spatial division multiplexing with multicore fibers. The different architectures in both shared-and dedicated-core scenarios for power over fiber delivery and data signals are described. The maximum power to be delivered depending on the efficiencies of the different components is addressed as well as the limits of the delivered energy to avoid fiber fuse and non-linear effects. It is shown how those limits depend on high power laser linewidth, fiber attenuation, link length and fiber core effective area. The impairments related to non-linear effects, multicore fiber crosstalk and temperature are also theoretically analyzed. Experiments show there is no degradation of signal quality for feeding powers of several hundreds of milliwatts for both scenarios in 4-core multicore fibers. This study helps in designing future power by light delivery solutions in Radio over Fiber systems with multicore fibers.

The Role of Power-over-Fiber in C-RAN Fronthauling Towards 5G

“…For MCFs however a different SEE performance for each core suffices because of the asymmetry between the different cores in a MCF. The different attenuation coefficient between the central and external cores implies reducing the distances, although limited to around 100 m from our previous experiments to achieve the same performance [6].…”

“…Important challenges face the MCF-based C-RAN architecture such as the proper address of the bit rate fronthauling requirements, the scalability issues to guarantee fiber availability while increasing the number of sector-cells, and compatibility in supporting other features, such as capacity increase by carrier aggregation, dynamic capacity allocation or current/evolved versions of passive optical access networks (PONs). For remote PoF delivery via MCF there are two scenarios: "power dedicated cores" where one or more of the multiple individual cores of a multicore fiber are exclusively used for optically remote feeding, and "shared cores" where some individual cores of the multicore fiber transmit simultaneously data/control and power over fiber signals [6]. Figure 1b depicts a different core usage and configuration design for a 7-core MCF, as an illustrative example, with PON integration and PoF capabilities.…”

“…Moreover, power consumption demands of future 5G-based RAUs can be dramatically reduced, especially if Analog Radio over Fiber (ARoF) mobile fronthaul is considered [4,5], where processing is done at the Central Office (CO). This upcoming 5G technology opens up new application niches for the power-over-fiber (PoF) technology [6], where low power simplified antenna units (around 80 mW) are required as part of future 5G-based RAUs [7] together with some strategy for energy saving to reduce the impact of the power consumption of the remote antenna units, including the capability of turning into sleep mode some RAUs [8] with total energy savings estimations of more than 30% [9]. Additionally, remote local battery charging with energy harvesting devices can also be used to backup operations and to provide feedback to the central office (CO) in case of failure.…”

SI-POF Supporting Power-Over-Fiber in Multi-Gbit/s Transmission for In-Home Networks

“…When considering shared scenario, it is important to verify how PoF power levels can affect the data transmission quality and efficiency. As previously discussed for silica multicore fibers, with other requirements, in [29].…”

Control Networks and Smart Grid Teleprotection: Key Aspects, Technologies, Protocols, and Case-Studies

“…Indeed, a special optical fiber can be used for simultaneously transmitting data and power in PoF links. In [203], Carmen Vázques et al proposed the integration of PoF to a fronthaul from a 5th Generation of Mobile Networks (5G) radio access network, by using multicore fiber and aiming to deliver power and data signals at Remote Antenna Units (RAUs). Another PoF technique using a double-clad fiber is demonstrated in [204].…”