Meir Bartur, Co-founder and CEO of Optical Zonu Corporation continues to be a thought leader for the RFoF Marketplace
by Meir Bartur, CEO
MPD: Has millimeter-wave technology advanced to the point where devices, subsystems, and systems can affordably be deployed for 5G?
MB:
We see solutions based on up/down conversion at the antenna and transport over fiber taking place in different sections of the 5G infrastructure, but market implementation is slower than expected. We believe it will pick up in 2025 and 2026. It is cost-effective and executable now.
MPD: Has 5G matured as you have expected, and is your company working on technologies that will be required for 6G?
MB:
5G has matured slower than expected, partially due to unexpected challenges carriers faced with rolling out nationwide networks and because proving out some of the important use cases on the commercial side has been met with skepticism or resistance
Since 6G is expected to use massive MIMO and require very high bandwidth in the fronthaul, we expect our radio frequency over fiber (RFoF) technology to be required in some instances and a highly recommended option in others. Higher frequencies provide lower latency, higher throughput communications but at the expense of resilient signal. RFoF is one of the best ways of transporting multiple channels of high frequency data up to 10 km and more without compromising signal performance by converting RF into optical waves for long distance transport and reconverting back to RF at the destination. Multiple bands in the analog “native” format can be carried simultaneously and effectively.
MPD: If your company serves defense applications including electronic warfare, SIGINT, radar, communications, or counter UAS, please describe advances in RF and microwave technology you believe will be most needed for DoD in the coming years.
MB:
Electromagnetic warfare significantly influences the battlefield by disrupting communications, radar systems, and autonomous weaponry. This means that transport of sensitive analog signals over fiber (as compared to free space) will provide enhanced resilience for command centers and other important elements of defense. Antenna remoting built with analog RFoF is impervious to electromagnetic interference and aids communications from its endpoint for many kilometers. As we continue to rely on more machinery and autonomous vehicles and weapons to defend our country we will have to be equally cautious of how to protect those from being compromised. RFoF will be crucial to protecting communications related to these systems.
MPD: Please describe what you consider to be your company’s most significant technological achievements in 2024.
MB:
We are working on radio frequency over fiber (RFoF) link gain tracking for uncooled lasers without the need for signal monitoring. Additionally, we are working on maintaining the fixed gain of RFoF links using uncooled lasers. When you have matched links that carry different polarizations of free space radiation in multiple bands, you can maintain the gain between two or more channels balanced over temperature. Avoiding the need for cooling and temperature stabilization reduces transmitter power requirements and cuts costs.
See full article on-line here https://www.mpdigest.com/2024/12/19/vftt-optical-zonu/