Company, a leading market research consultancy, today announced the release of a new Executive White Paper, presenting their market analysis and forecast of Free Space Optics (FSO) communication links used in non-military/aerospace applications.
According to the ElectroniCast Executive White Paper: Free Space Optics Global Market Forecast & Analysis (2010-2016), FSO s a line-of-sight (LOS) technology that uses directed laser beams, which provide optical bandwidth Transmitters and Receivers to link voice, video, and data intelligent transfer. A single FSO link product (from point A to point B) often may incorporate multiple transmitters along with receiver/s to ensure adequate performance, in case of interference.
“As the cost and other obstacles of deploying fiber optic cables or copper-based cables continue to increase, the product and deployment opportunities for FSO as well as other wireless communication link solutions improve. Communication managers face the timely delays and cost comparison of utilizing a telecommunication leased-line versus the implementation of a FSO system, the flexibility of the FSO product-area may present an attractive communication link alternative,” said Stephen Montgomery, president of International Business at Company.
According to ElectroniCast, although corporate connections from the Incumbent provider or other alternative solutions are often prohibitively expensive, the quantity (or volume) of FSO links required on an annual basis is relatively minor. FSO can prove to be an attractive solution for some deployment scenarios; however, these scenarios represent unique or niche situations.
Typically optical communication systems rely on optical fibers between transmitter and receiver, but free space optical communications (optical wireless) systems do not have the limitations associated with the installation and maintenance of such guided wave optical communication systems. FSO can be deployed in a matter of days, there are no reoccurring monthly costs and has limited (if any) rights of way (ROW) issues to negotiate with municipalities or businesses; however, carriers typically require stringent back-up or alternative technical redundancy, which is one huge roadblock to carrier acceptance.
The global consumption of fixed-location (stationary) Transmitter/Receiver (T/R) links used in non-military/ aerospace Free Space Optic system equipment is considered a relatively small market in 2011. FSO Transmitters and Receivers used in link equipment with a range capability of less than 500 meters lead in relative market share in 2011 (see Data Figure).
“Optical wireless communication links can be installed along railroad/subway tracks, tunnels, airport terminals, parking lot/structures or other major un-obstructed right-of-way (ROW); outdoors or indoors on building rooftops (building-to-building and/or campus), exterior walls, towers, behind windows or any combination; however, a direct line-of-sight and appropriate distance are required to enable a Transmitter/Receiver Link between two points,” Montgomery noted.
FSO-based products accommodate Ethernet-based protocols, SONET/SDH, ATM, FDDI and other standard and proprietary protocols. Products can be used for metropolitan (Metro) network extension; DWDM services, access/last mile, wireless backhaul, disaster recovery (testing and communications), storage area networks (SANs) and LAN/first mile, as well as MAN/WAN solutions.
FSO systems are deployed near the 1550 nm wavelength window as well as the near-visible infrared spectral region around 780 nm to 850 nm. Selected FSO system providers claim that their solutions can provide “carrier-class” availability even in adverse weather conditions, such as extreme temperatures, rain, fog, smog, snow, a flock of birds, etc. Solutions are often addressed through redundant, but alternative technologies, such as Radio Frequency (RF) hybrid approach.
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