Fraunhofer HHI demo 2x1.7-Tbps free-space optics over 380 m

Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute HHI says it has established a bidirectional 1.7-Tbps free-space optical communications link on its Berlin campus.

Fraunhofer HHI says the 380-m link has demonstrated eye-safe operation. Total antenna output power was less than 10 mW. The signals in both directions consisted of 40 wavelengths of 43 Gbps each. The measured bit-error rate of the channels ranged between 1E-8 and 0 without forward error correction.

The demonstration setup saw two bidirectional terminals placed on the same building, with a relay mirror placed on the other building to increase the link distance. Fine and coarse tracking systems stabilized the coupling into the single-mode fibers at both terminals. Huawei assisted in this result.

Fraunhofer HHI says it is working on techniques to increase the link distance to several kilometers. The group believes the technology could find application as a means to deliver high-speed internet in converged city and access networks.

The fiber-based system that generates and demodulated the 1.7-Tbps signal also has been deployed over a free-space unidirectional 10-km link with the high-power free-space transmission system of the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR).

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