FiWi Networks

Abstract

Optical access network is a promising solution to meet the ever-increasing demand for broadband services. Fiber-based technologies such as Fiber To The Home (FTTH), Fiber To The Building (FTTB), and Fiber To The Curb (FTTC) are well suited to support high bandwidth services and mitigate bandwidth bottlenecks. However, implementing optical fiber to all end points imposes considerable CAPEX. Moreover, fiber cannot directly reach mobile users and devices. Although untethered features of wireless networks are attractive, their limited supported bandwidth cannot answer today’s enormous demands. Combining complementary features of these two technologies for broadband access is imminent and meritorious. Thus, integrated Fiber-Wireless (FiWi) access networks are considered as a scalable and economical means for broadband access. In FiWi, end points receive services through a wireless subnetwork, which acts as the front end and is connected to the optical subnetwork, which serves as the back end via gateway nodes.