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“Free Space Optics” : Assessment of Technologies and Markets
PracTel Inc, Nov 2006
The FSO industry shows some strength, and the FSO market is growing, though with much less speed that was predicted.
In spite of this, the commercial future of free-space optical communications remains uncertain. On the one hand, the push for ever-greater bandwidth could eventually outrun any RF capacity, forcing a shift to free-space optical. On the other, RF techniques have a long head start in inside-building applications, and the weather problem remains a severe one for optical inter-building links. Perhaps the best overall prospects are in space, where progress is being made in improving acquisition and tracking. Once these are perfected, the bandwidth advantages of optical free-space communications should open up a substantial market niche.
The report summarizes recent trends in the FSO development and shows benefits of its use in multiple applications. The technology is perfecting, using multiple lasers and optical-microwave protection as well as advances in optics; it is also shifting from the 800 nm widow to the 1500 nm window, allowing more transmit power.
The FSO industry consists of mostly established vendors that manufacture equipment for various distances and speeds of transmission. The highest speed of 2.5 Gb/s promises to be increased to 10 Gb/s in foreseeable future; some vendors claim a transmission path up to 5 km with at least 99.9% availability.
The report also analyzes the FSO market and provides its characteristics.
In the authors’ opinion, FSO systems will continue to be used in niche applications, and the technology advances will make this industry stronger and stronger each year. Several of the most important factors that help the FSO market to grow are cost, short deployment time and maintenance-free communications channel.
Research Methodology
Considerable research was done using the Internet. Information from various Web sites was studied and analyzed. Evaluation of publicly available marketing and technical publications was conducted. Telephone conversations and interviews were held with industry analysts, technical experts and executives. In addition to these interviews and primary research, secondary sources were used to develop a more complete mosaic of the market landscape, including industry and trade publications, conferences and seminars.
The overriding objective throughout the work has been to provide valid and relevant information. This has led to a continual review and update of the information content.
Target Audience
This report is important to a wide audience of researches, technical and sales staff involved in the developing of last mile accesses. It is recommended for both service providers and vendors that are working with related technologies. The report also helps to understand issues associated with relationship between discussed systems and other technologies.
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