Terrestrial Free-Space Laser Links

Advantages

  • Versus fiber: Fast and inexpensive link installation
  • Versus radio: No wavelength regulation

Fields of applications

  • Fast connectivity solutions (e.g. disaster recovery)
  • 'Last-Mile' network solutions
  • Microcell connectivity for mobile communication
  • Mobile-network backhauling

Main challenges for FSO

  • Pointing errors must be kept very low because of high antenna directivity
  • Atmospheric perturbations (cloud, turbulence) must be mitigated
  • Eye-safety conditions must be fulfilled