Short Courses

SC217 Hybrid Fiber Radio: The Application of Photonic Links in Wireless Communications

Sunday, February 24, 4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Dalma Novak; Pharad LLC, USA

Level: Advanced Beginner (basic understanding of topic is necessary to follow course material)

Course Description
Increasingly, optical fiber links are finding application in commercial wireless telecommunication networks for the transport and distribution of radio signals. Wireless systems where such hybrid technology is now being used include cellular networks; indoor distributed antenna systems; WLANs; as well as fixed and mobile broadband networks which can provide very high bandwidth services to users.

This Short Course will present an overview of how and where photonic links are finding application in wireless communication networks. The associated technologies, devices, sub-systems and system architectures that enable the implementation of integrated wireless and wired (optical) networks will be discussed. The various technical challenges that must be addressed for the successful integration of such networks which encompass very different requirements and specifications will also be included. Topics to be covered include wireless network architectures and system characteristics, integrated optical/wireless network architectures, requirements and challenges for the development of hybrid fiber radio technologies, comparison of technologies and implementation approaches, and current status of the commercial market for hybrid fiber radio networks.

Benefits and Learning Objectives
This course should enable you to:

• Understand how and why wireless communication systems are being integrated with wired (optical fiber) networks.
• Identify the technical challenges related to the application of photonics and optical networking concepts to wireless communications.
• Understand and compare technologies that enable the integration of wireless and optical networks.
• Identify architectures and technologies that can improve the performance of hybrid fiber-wireless systems.
• Design architectures and subsystems for fiber-wireless networks.

Intended Audience
This is an introduction to intermediate course for people working in telecommunication related areas who wish to broaden their knowledge and learn how optical networks are being integrated with wireless communications or find out the current status of this multidisciplinary field.

Instructor Biography
Dalma Novak is vice president at Pharad LLC, located in Maryland and developing advanced wireless communications, RF photonics and antenna products. She received her doctorate in electrical engineering in 1992. From 1992 to 2004 she was a faculty member in the department of electrical and electronic engineering at The University of Melbourne, Australia, where she is now a Professorial Fellow. Previously she held positions at Dorsal Networks and Corvis Corp. Her research interests include hybrid fiber radio technologies, wireless and WDM networks and high-speed photonic devices and systems. She has published more than 220 papers in these and related areas. She is an IEEE Fellow and associate editor (Systems/Networks) for IEEE/OSA Journal of Lightwave Technology. She is Chair of the IEEE LEOS Microwave Photonics Technical Subcommittee and Vice Chair of the IEEE MTT-S Microwave Photonics Technical Subcommittee.