Toward 6G: Unified RoF Fronthaul Using a DML-Based Centralized Free-Running Laser for Simultaneous VLC and mmWave Transmission
[EN] This work experimentally demonstrates, for the first time, a unified Radio-over-Fiber (RoF) fronthaul for simultaneous visible light communication (VLC) and millimeter-wave (mmWave) transmission, enabled by a directly modulated laser (DML) in a centralized free-running configuration. Photonic h...
| Autores: | , , , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2026 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) |
| Repositorio: | RiuNet. Repositorio Institucional de la Universitat Politécnica de Valéncia |
| Idioma: | inglés |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:dnet:riunet______::ce9ef49bd43479dcbd1ee511c980a8f3 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://riunet.upv.es/handle/10251/234061 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Optical fibers Optical attenuators Optical mixing Optical network units Optical transmitters Millimeter wave communication Optical filters Optical amplifiers Optical receivers Optical polarization Convergence Free-running lasers Microwave photonics Millimeter-wave signal Radio-over-fiber |
| Sumario: | [EN] This work experimentally demonstrates, for the first time, a unified Radio-over-Fiber (RoF) fronthaul for simultaneous visible light communication (VLC) and millimeter-wave (mmWave) transmission, enabled by a directly modulated laser (DML) in a centralized free-running configuration. Photonic heterodyning of dual optical carriers is used to generate high-frequency signals with cost-effective and scalable operation, suitable for 6G fronthaul networks. Two hybrid scenarios are validated: (i) a Light-Emitting Diode (LED)-based VLC/mmWave link for low-bandwidth Internet of Things (IoT) -oriented services and (ii) a LASER-based VLC/mmWave link for high-speed indoor communications. Optimized power levels achieve error vector magnitude (EVM) values of 2.1% for VLC and 3.7% for mmWave, supporting data rates up to 1.65 Gbps and 692 Mbps, respectively. The inherent tunability of the free-running approach allows straightforward extension to sub-THz frequencies, positioning this architecture as a cost-efficient and future-proof solution for optical-wireless convergence toward 6G networks. |
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