Comparative Performance Analysis of Free Space Optics as a Backup Link for Fiber Connectivity around the Areas of Bole Medhanialem Using Optisystem 15
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Date
2021-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Free space optics (FSO) is a field of curiosity and importance for the scientists because of its numerous applications and advantages like low cost, easy deployment, high data rate, secure links and license free bands. FSO technology utilizes the light propagating in the free space to transmit the data wirelessly for both telecommunications and computer networking domains. In optical communication, we use optical fiber cable as a medium but in the free space optical communication, we use the free space as the medium to propagate the light signal [1].
Even if fiber optics is the most reliable means of providing optical communications, the digging delays and associated costs to lay fiber often makes it economically prohibitive. A telecom service provider in our case Ethiotelecom faced a problem to deliver a quality service because of many technical issues one of them is lack of deploying a redundant link. As we all know unable to deliver a promised service leads to customer dissatisfaction.
This thesis paper proposes a design of point to point FSO as a backup link for fiber connectivity around the area of Bole Medhanialem pointing from Bole exchange to three different enterprise buildings (Sapphire Addis Hotel, Best western Addis Hotel, Skylight Hotel) that is capable of transmitting data at 80Mb/s, 60Mb/s and 200Mb/s for a distances of 0.116km, 0.36km and 1.45km respectively. And it’s performance analysis and comparison with fiber optics observed using Optisystem software15 by taking the performance metrics Q factor and BER found from the reading of BER analyzer. From the results it has been understood that FSO link can perform like FO (main link) at a cost of input power. Since FSO link in Ethiotelecom infrastructure has not been studied before we can take this paper as a reference for future deployment of FSO technology in the country.
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FSO, FO, BER analyzer, Q factor, PRBS generator.