Digital radio over fiber transmission based on SCM and WDM system for C-RAN architecture

Abstract

This work presents two technologies for Centralized Radio Access Network Architecture (C-RAN) based on Digital Radio over Fiber (DRoF) respectively SCM (Subcarrier Multiplexing) and WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplexing). The simulation analysis is discussed by evaluating the impact of the digitized process on the system performance, complexity and cost. Results indicates that SCM-DRoF has a acceptable BER performance for fiber links up to 20 km and WDM-DRoF can reach up to 40 km. However, WDM-DRoF uses a greater number of components compared to SCM-DRoF and it can generates a higher cost as well. Both setup can be used applied to C-RAN architecture considering this aspects.