Demonstration of a hybrid A-RoF/VLC system for beyond 5G applications

This work reports the implementation of a fiber-optics and visible light communication (VLC)-based flexible optical distribution network for beyond the fifth generation of mobile networks (B5G) applications. The proposed hybrid architecture is composed of a 12.5-km single-mode fiber fronthaul based on the analog radio-over-fiber (A-RoF) technology, followed by a red, green, and blue (RGB)-based VLC link of 1.2 m. As a proof of concept, we experimentally demonstrate a successful deployment of a 5G hybrid A-RoF/VLC system without using pre-/postequalization, digital pre-distortion, or individual filters for each color, by means of using a dichroic cube filter at the receiver side. The system performance is evaluated in terms of the root mean square error vector magnitude (EVMRMS), in accordance with the 3rd Generation Partnership Project requirements, and as a function of the light-emitting diodes' injected electrical power and signal bandwidth. (c) 2023 Optica Publishing Group