System-Level Model for mmWave-over-Fiber Distributed Antenna Systems

A mmWave-over-fiber distributed antenna system (DAS), in combination with highly efficient air-filled substrate-integrated-waveguide (AFSIW) remote antenna units (RAUs), proves to be a prime candidate to counter the harsh propagation conditions that arise at mmWave frequencies. This paper proposes a system-level model to accurately analyze the link quality of a downlink mmWave-over-fiber wireless link in a time-efficient way. The model includes a realistic antenna description, fiber losses, and non-linear effects of the opto-electrical/electro-optical transducers and the electrical amplifiers. This provides in-depth insight into the signal quality at each stage of the link and enables offline link optimization. In addition, the modular nature allows incorporating more advanced wireless channel models/measurements, which can be used to optimize RAU placement in the future. Finally, the model is validated by means of a measurement campaign, demonstrating good agreement.