OPTICAL WIRELESS COMMUNICATION

AVTAR SINGH MALHI

SHRI GURU GRANTH SAHIB WORLD UNIVERSITY
FATEHGARH SAHIB
1. INTRODUCTION
This article deals ith the Wireless O!tical C"##$%icati"% &WOC'. I% this !a!er e
#ai%l( disc$ss the !r")le#s ith the c"%*e%ti"%al #eth"ds "+ c"##$%icati"% s$ch as
,er#issi"%s- Lice%se +ees- Lac. "+ I%ter%ati"%al sta%dardi/ati"%- Wasta0e "+ !"er a%d
Sec$rit( a%d h" this %e tech%"l"0( "+ WOC ca% )e $sed t" "*erc"#e these !r")le#s-
al"%0 ith its "% set "+ ad*a%ta0es1 We als" disc$ss a)"$t the c"#!etiti"%s it is +aci%0
a%d h" it sta%ds a!art- a%d +i%all( h" l" c"st $ser +rie%dl( de*ices )$ilt $si%0 this
tech%"l"0( ca% )e $sed i% the R$ral I%dia% Sce%ari"1 As the ter# ireless "!tical
c"##$%icati"%s &WOC' s$00ests- this is a 0r"$! "+ tech%"l"0ies that $se li0ht t"
c"##$%icate thr"$0h the air, a%d re2$ire clear li%e "+ si0ht )etee% $%its1 M"der%
s(ste#s t(!icall( $se lasers "r li0ht3e#itti%0 di"des t" !r"d$ce the li0ht at "%e e%d- hile
!h"t" di"des at the recei*er se%se the i%c"#i%0 li0ht- a%d se%d a% a!!r"!riate si0%al t" a
c"%%ected c"#!$ter.
+i04 I% WOC the cha%%el $sed is air
I% the telec"##$%icati"%s s!ace, WOC s(ste#s are i% $se i% %iche a!!licati"%s-
#"stl( +"r hi0h3 )a%didth a!!licati"%s %eedi%0 t" tra%s+er h$%dreds "+ #e0a)its !er
sec"%d- "*er dista%ces t(!icall( less tha% a .il"#eter. Rece%t de*el"!#e%ts !r"#ise t"
)ri%0 WOC i%t" the real# "+ i%e5!e%si*e c"%s$#er !r"d$cts1
2. CURRENT SCHEMES WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS
I% the last decades- the $se "+ ireless has 0r"% at a +$ri"$s !ace. The
ad*a%ta0es "+ ireless are ra!id de!l"(#e%t- ith"$t the %eed t" di0 tre%ches +"r ca)les-
a%d see. !er#issi"%s +"r ri0ht "+ a(1 A )i0 ad*a%ta0e "+ ireless is i% all"i%0 !e"!le t"
c"##$%icate hile the( are #")ile. The s(ste#s i% c"##"% $se are4
1
617 SATELLITE
While satellites i% l"-earth "r)it are s"#eti#es $sed +"r c"##$%icati"%- the #"st
c"##"% are 0e"stati"%ar( satellites- hich are stati"%ed a!!r"5i#atel( 89::: .# aa(1
These are !artic$larl( $se+$l t" )ri%0 c"##$%icati"%s t" re#"te areas- a%d are als" ell
s$ited t" sit$ati"%s here the sa#e c"%te%t has t" )e deli*ered t" a lar0e %$#)er "+ !e"!le,
as i% the case "+ radi" &W"rlds!ace' a%d TV1 Satellites- "+ c"$rse- are e5!e%si*e t" #a.e a%d
t" #ai%tai%1
616 RADIO
O*er the (ears- a !leth"ra "+ s(ste#s +"r radi" c"##$%icati"% ha*e )ee%
de*el"!ed1 These $se a *ariet( "+ +re2$e%cies- as ell as !r"t"c"ls +"r #"d$lati%0 the
carrier +re2$e%c( ith data, a%d c"*er ra%0es +r"# a +e t" th"$sa%ds "+ .il"#eters1
,erha!s the )est rec"0%i/ed e5a#!les "+ s$ch c"##$%icati"% are the #icr"a*e t"ers
scattered ar"$%d the c"$%tr(side.


2
618 MOBILE ,HONE
With the ad*e%t "+ #")ile !h"%es- ireless c"##$%icati"%s reached the #a%
i% the street1 Here t""- there are se*eral s(ste#s i% $se, )"th a%al"0 a%d di0ital- i% a
*ariet( "+ +re2$e%cies a%d i%c"#!ati)le sta%dards1 GSM a%d CDMA ha*e e#er0ed
as the d"#i%a%t s(ste#s i% this s!ace. S$ch s(ste#s ca% als" )e $sed +"r se%di%0
data at +airl( sl" s!eeds -- ;1< .il")its !er sec"%d is t(!ical1 The( als" %eed a%
e5!e%si*e ce%tral sitch 3 #")ile !h"%es ca%%"t tal. directl( t" each "ther.
3. ,ROBLEMS WITH CONVENTIONAL WIRELESS
COMMUNICATIONS
817 ,ERMISSIONS
The radi" s!ectr$# is hi0hl( re0$lated all "*er the "rld1 The +irst reas"%
+"r this is i%ter+ere%ce1 U%less care is ta.e% t" care+$ll( desi0% s(ste#s that either $se
c"#!letel( dis!arate +re2$e%cies- "r the a%te%%ae are care+$ll( directed s" that the
)ea#s d"%=t i%ter+ere, radi" c"##$%icati"% )rea.s d"%1 The sec"%d reas"% +"r
strict re0$lati"% is sec$rit(1 The W"rld War II i#a0e "+ the s!( ith a radi"
tra%s#itter i% his attic see#s t" !ersist i% )$rea$cratic #i%ds t" this da(- e*e% th"$0h
s!ies %" ha*e +ar easier a(s t" se%d i%+"r#ati"% h"#e - s$ch as h"t#ail1
816 LICENSE FEES
As $sers a%d $ses +"r ireless c"##$%icati"% ha*e i%creased- radi" s!ectr$#
has )ec"#e i%creasi%0l( scarce. A$cti"%i%0 thi% slices "+ it has )ec"#e hi0hl(
l$crati*e +"r 0"*er%#e%ts1 T(!icall(- s$ch lice%se +ees are %"t >$st "%e-ti#e,
)$t a%%$al1
818 LAC? OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDI@ATION

Des!ite the )est e++"rts "+ "r0a%i/ati"%s s$ch as the ITU, #a>"r #ar.ets- s$ch
as the US, E$r"!e a%d Aa!a%- ha*e %"t ala(s )ee% a)le t" a0ree "% hat +re2$e%c( t"
$se +"r hich !$r!"se. As a res$lt- the sa#e !r"d$ct ca%%"t )e $sed acr"ss c"$%tries-
a sit$ati"% #")ile !h"%e $sers are +a#iliar ith1 This red$ces the le*el "+ #ass
!r"d$cti"% !"ssi)le, leadi%0 t" hi0her c"st1
3
819 WASTEFUL OF ,OWER
Radi" tra%s#issi"%s are hard t" +"c$s1 As a res$lt- "%l( a *er( ti%( !"rti"% "+
the e%er0( tra%s#itted is act$all( !ic.ed $! )( the recei*er. This !r")le#- "r
c"$rse, )ec"#es #"re ac$te as the dista%ce )etee% se%der a%d recei*er i%creases-
a%d is the )a%e "+ satellite c"##$%icati"%s1 ,artic$larl( i% r$ral areas- !"er is
scarce a%d e5!e%si*e. F"r i%sta%ce, i+ s"lar !"er is $sed- it is %"t $%$s$al +"r the
!"er s"$rce t" c"st as #$ch as the rest "+ the c"##$%icati"% e2$i!#e%t1
81B SECURITY
Beca$se radi" tra%s#issi"%s e5!a%d "$tard i% a lar0e c"%e, !e"!le "ther
tha% the desired reci!ie%t ca% !ic. $! the tra%s#issi"%1 U%less 2$alit( s"+tare
e%cr(!ti"% is e#!l"(ed- hich still ha!!e%s rather rarel(- radi" c"##$%icati"% is
eas( t" i%terce!t1 Ille0al $se "+ radi" c"##$%icati"% is als" +airl( eas( t" detect1
91 WHY O,TICAL WIRELESS
O!tical c"##$%icati"% is- as a r$le, a c"#!letel( $%re0$lated #ar.et- e5ce!t t"
the e5te%t re2$ired t" !r"tect the h$#a% e(e +r"# a str"%0 )ea#1 U%der the IEC C:6B
sta%dard- t" )e $%c"%diti"%all( sa+e- de*ices #$st c"%+"r# t" a CLASS 7 desi0%ati"%
This !er#its *iei%0 at a%( ra%0e "*er a%( d$rati"% e*e% $si%0 "!tical aids s$ch as
)i%"c$lars1 The #iliatts "+ !"er t(!icall( $sed )( #"der% "!tical c"##$%icati"%
s(ste#s are ell )el" s$ch li#its1 Si%ce the +re2$e%cies $sed are $%re0$lated- the(
attract %" lice%se +ees- hile the sa#e +re2$e%cies ca% )e $sed all "*er the "rld-
eli#i%ati%0 the %eed +"r di++ere%t #"dels +"r di++ere%t c"$%tries1 A s"l$ti"% +"r
S"$th Asia c"$ld there+"re easil( )e e5!"rted1
Laser )ea#s ca% easil( )e +"c$sed *er( %arr"l(1 DLaser !"i%ters are chea!
e5a#!les de#"%strati%0 #ill radia% c"lli#ati"% +r"# a #illi#eter a!ert$re. T" 0et
si#ilar c"lli#ati"% +"r a 7 GH/ RF si0%al "$ld re2$ire a% a%te%%a 7:: #eters acr"ss-
d$e t" the di++ere%ce i% a*ele%0th "+ the t" tra%s#issi"%s1 A si#ilar ad*a%ta0e is
see% at the recei*er, here c"#!act le%ses ca% )e $sed +"r "!tical )ea#s- hile radi"
si0%als %eed lar0e a%d $%ieldl( a%te%%ae at the recei*er e%d as ell- t" ")tai%
si0%i+ica%t i#!r"*e#e%t i% e++icie%c(1 Beca$se laser )ea#s are ti0htl( +"c$sed- it is
%earl( i#!"ssi)le +"r a%("%e t" i%terce!t the#- "r e*e% t" detect their $se. Bea#s "+
li0ht e++"rtlessl( !ass thr"$0h each "ther, ith"$t i%ter+eri%01 These c"%siderati"%s
#a.e it $%li.el( that "!tical c"##$%icati"% ill )e re0$lated e*e% i% the +$t$re.
4
B1 WOC ,RODUCTS IN THE INTERNATIONAL MAR?ET
While #"st !r"d$cts all" "%l( !"i%t-t"-!"i%t c"##$%icati"%- c"#!a%ies s$ch
as AirFi)er a%d Tera)ea# ha*e )r"$0ht "$t !r"d$cts that easil( all" a #esh "+
li%.s )etee% %"des t" )e set $!1 ,rices are i% the th"$sa%ds- i+ %"t te%s "+ th"$sa%ds
"+ d"llars1
<1 INDUSTRY ,ROBLEMS
The %arr" )ea#s $sed i% ireless "!tical c"##$%icati"%s %eed t" sta(
+"c$sed- e*e% thr"$0h i%d a%d *i)rati"%1 This re2$ires s!ecial hardare +"r
a$t"#atic ali0%#e%t1 The% a0ai%- eather a%d +l(i%0 )irds ca% i%ter+ere ith 2$alit(
rece!ti"%1 C"%se2$e%tl(- the di++ic$lties +aced )( the i%d$str( i%cl$de4
<17 HIGH3S,EED- HIGH COST NICHE
The !r"d$cts a*aila)le i% the #ar.et !r"*ide "rders "+ )a%didth #"re tha%
hat the c"%s$#er %eeds- at a !rice she ca%%"t a++"rd1 The( are $sed he% "ther
#eth"ds are i%+easi)le, "r he% a lar0e a#"$%t "+ )a%didth %eeds t" )e !r"*ided at
sh"rt %"tice, +"r i%sta%ce d$ri%0 a c"%+ere%ce.
<16 COM,ETITION
Telec"##$%icati"%s is a% i%d$str( ith a hi0h rate "+ i%%"*ati"%- ith a
*ariet( "+ s(ste#s i% $se- hich WOC #$st c"#!ete ith1 These i%cl$de s(ste#s
)"th- i% the ired a%d ireless s!ace. O%l( th"se that "++er )r"ad)a%d c"%%ecti*it(
are disc$ssed here.
<1617 O,TIC FIBER
M$ch i%*est#e%t has ta.e% !lace all "*er the "rld i% this tech%"l"0(- hich
+"r l"%0-dista%ce hi0h3 )a%didth tra++ic has %" e2$al1 H"e*er- there are
li#itati"%s4 Al#"st ;: !erce%t "+ all "++ice )$ildi%0s i% the U%ited States ha*e %"
+i)er c"%%ecti"%1 T" li%. a )$ildi%0 ith +i)er c"sts )etee%
E7::-::: a%d E6::-::: a%d "+te% i%*"l*es a !r"*isi"%i%0 dela( "+ +"$r t" 76
#"%ths1 Gi*e% the c"st a%d ti#e re2$ired- it is %"t realistic t" e5!ect "!tic +i)er t"
reach all "$r *illa0es a%( ti#e s""%1
<1616 8G
Telec"##$%icati"%s c"#!a%ies ha*e i%*ested hea*il( i% this- hich is
s$!!"sed t" deli*er )r"ad)a%d c"%%ecti*it( t" #")ile !h"%es1 E5"r)ita%t lice%se +ees
ha*e alread( hea*il( )$rde%ed this tech%"l"0(1 I% additi"%- there d"es %"t a!!ear t"
)e 0l")al a0ree#e%t "% the +re2$e%cies a%d !r"t"c"ls t" )e $sed1 Besides- the
tech%"l"0( is%=t a*aila)le (et1 I% the a)se%ce "+ clear de#a%d at the !rice !"i%t that
the telec"# ser*ice !r"*iders ill %eed t" char0e, #a%( ha*e dela(ed their
de!l"(#e%t !la%s- leadi%0 s"#e e5!erts t" )elie*e that this tech%"l"0( is still)"r%1
<1618. C:6177B
5
This sta%dard de+i%es e2$i!#e%t +"r ireless L"cal Area Net"r.s "+ ,Cs- a%d
has a %"r#al ra%0e "+ a c"$!le "+ h$%dred +eet1 H"e*er, i%%"*ati*e !e"!le +"$%d a
a(- $si%0 hi0hl( directi"%al a%te%%ae- a%d a l"-l"ss ca)le )etee% ,C a%d a%te%%a-
t" e5te%d the ra%0e t" se*eral .il"#eters1 The 619 GH/ +re2$e%c( e#!l"(ed is
delice%sed i% #a%( !arts "+ the "rld1 As a res$lt "+ the hi0h *"l$#es "+ !r"d$cti"%
this all"s- the c"st "+ the hardare is "%l( a +e th"$sa%d R$!ees- hich #i0ht
#a.e it attracti*e +"r i%terc"%%ecti%0 *illa0es1 While i% I%dia a% a%%"$%ce#e%t as
#ade that the tech%"l"0( ill )e delice%sed +"r i%d""r $se, it is %"t clear he%
"$td""r $se "*er s$ch dista%ces ill )e si#ilarl( treated1 While !er#issi"% ca% )e
")tai%ed +"r "$td""r $se +r"# the 0"*er%#e%t- at !rese%t- +airl( stee! lice%se +ees are
le*ied1 A +all i% !rice "+ the hardare c"#)i%ati"% "+ c"#!$ter, C:6177) card- ca)le
a%d a%te%%a t" a le*el that the a*era0e *illa0er ca% a++"rd is %"t e5!ected a%( ti#e
s""%1
F1 RECENT DEVELO,MENTS IN WOC
The ad*a%ta0es "+ ireless "!tical- a%d the !r")le#s its c"#!etit"rs +ace, #a.e
this area *er( !r"#isi%0- a%d %at$rall( the s$)>ect "+ c"%sidera)le research ar"$%d
the "rld T" e5a#!les +r"# "r. d"%e at the U%i*ersit( "+ Ber.ele( are descri)ed
)el"-
F17 THE VIDEO CAMERA- LASER ,OINTER COMBINATION
Usi%0 a sta%dard CCD ca#era ith a 7-i%ch a!ert$re le%s as the recei*er, a%d a
laser radiati%0 less tha% 6#W a*era0e, M1 Last a%d "thers ere a)le t" esta)lish
c"##$%icati"%s d$ri%0 the da( ti#e "*er a dista%ce "+ "*er 6: .#1 Si%ce the ca#era
sca%s at <: +ra#es !er sec"%d- the( ere "%l( a)le t" recei*e at 9 )its !er sec"%d-
al)eit +r"# d"/e%s "+ s"$rces si#$lta%e"$sl(1 A *illa0e ishi%0 t" e5cha%0e sh"rt
#essa0es ith %ei0h)"ri%0 "%es c"$ld set $! s$ch a s(ste# $si%0 "++ the shel+
c"#!"%e%ts *er( 2$ic.l(1

F16 THE HIGH S,EED SOLUTION WITH CUSTOM HARDWARE
Usi%0 i#a0i%0 hardare i% hich each !i5el ca% )e i%de!e%de%tl( !r"cessed
a%d there+"re Dis a +$ll( i%de!e%de%t #e0a)itGsec"%d recei*erD a%d a$t"#atic )ea#
steeri%0 $si%0 c"#!$ter-c"%tr"lled ste!!er #"t"rs- it is !"ssi)le, +"r a +e h$%dred
d"llars- t" #a.e c"##$%icati"% e2$i!#e%t that has a ra%0e "+ se*eral .il"#eters- a%d
6
the a)ilit( that the e2$i!#e%t at each e%ds l"cates the "ther a$t"#aticall(1 Data
thr"$0h!$t i% #e0a)its !er sec"%d - e%"$0h +"r 2$alit( *ide" c"%+ere%ci%0 - is easil(
achie*a)le.
C1 ADA,TING THE TECHNOLOGY TO THE INDIAN RURAL
SITUATION
A%( !r"d$ct +"r r$ral I%dia #$st ta.e i%t" acc"$%t the li#ited !$rchasi%0
!"er "+ the a*era0e *illa0er. A l"3c"st e%d-$ser de*ice "$ld 0" a l"%0 a( t"
#a.i%0 this tech%"l"0( a s$ccess i% I%dia1 A laser !"i%ter- !h"t" di"de- s"#e
si#!le electr"%ics- a l"$ds!ea.er a%d #icr"!h"%e c"$ld )e c"#)i%ed i%t" a s#all
!ac.a0e a%d #ade i% lar0e 2$a%tities +"r a c"$!le "+ h$%dred r$!ees1 This c"$ld
!r"*ide the +ar#er i% the +ield *"ice c"##$%icati"% ith the *illa0e, "+ a 2$alit(
)etter tha% FM radi" 3 all he "$ld %eed t" d"- "$ld )e t" !"i%t the de*ice t"ards
the ca#era #"$%ted at a hi0h !"i%t i% the *illa0e. F"r "%e-a( c"##$%icati"% *ia
M"rse c"de, the +ar#er "$ld "%l( %eed a chea! laser !"i%ter.
;1 CONCLUSION
Wireless "!tical c"##$%icati"% has ad*a%ced +ar e%"$0h- that it e%c"#!asses
all the )e%e+its "+ c"%*e%ti"%al ireless - 2$ic. de!l"(#e%t a%d #")ile
c"##$%icati"%- hile deli*eri%0 a #illi"% ti#es #"re )a%didth tha% a GSM !h"%e,
!r"*idi%0 #$ch hi0her sec$rit( a%d c"%s$#i%0 +ar less !"er1 Si%ce, $%li.e
c"%*e%ti"%al ireless- "!tical de*ices "!erate i% 0l")all( $%re0$lated +re2$e%c(
)a%ds- the( ha*e a% $%restricted 0l")al #ar.et1 T" #a.e this tech%"l"0( #ar.eta)le i%
r$ral S"$th Asia, a% e%d-$ser de*ice c"sti%0 $%der E7: is %eeded1 A tele!h"%e ha%dset
that c"##$%icates "!ticall( ith the )ase stati"% "$ld +it the )ill1O$r electrical
i%d$str( has a% $%dersta%di%0 "+ the #a%$+act$ri%0 !r"cesses "+ O!t"3electr"%ic
e2$i!#e%t1 M"*i%0 i% a hi-tech directi"% s$ch as this is )ec"#i%0 i#!erati*e +"r
c"#!a%ies threate%ed )( c"#!etiti"% +r"# acr"ss the Chi%ese )"rder.
7:1 REFERENCES
D1A1T1Heatle(- D1R1Wisel(- I1Neild A%d ,1C"chra%e- DO!tical Wireless4 the st"r(
s" +arD- IEEE c"##$%icati"%s #a0a/i%e 8<&76' &6::C' F63C6
H1A1Wille)ra%d A%d B1S1Gh$#a%, DFi)er O!tics With"$t Fi)erD- IEEE
S!ectr$# Ma0a/i%e- A$0$st 6:7:, !! 9:39B1
A1?ash(a!- M1?1?ha%da%i- ?1Lee- M1Sha(#a%- D!r"+ile3Based T"!"l"0(
C"%tr"l A%d R"$ti%0 O+ Ba%didth3G$ara%teed Fl"s I% Wireless O!tical
Bac.)"%e Net"r.sD- U%i*ersit( O+ Mar(la%d
htt!4GG1+rees!ace"!tics1"r0G
htt!4GGhtt!4GG1+s"%a1c"#G
7
Laser H htt!4GGe%1i.i!edia1"r0Gi.iGLaserI
Li0ht,"i%te 44 O$td""r Wireless 33 ,"i%t3T"3,"i%t C"%%ecti*it( S"l$ti"%s
Hhtt!4GG1li0ht!"i%te1c"#Gh"#e1c+#I
8