Comprehensive Analysis of 5G Hybrid FSO Communication Networks for Improved Backhaul Connectivity

Abstract

In the era of fifth-generation (5G) and beyond, the main objectives are revolving the increased capacity, accelerated data rates, reduced latency, and heightened service quality. Meeting these requirements necessitates significant improvements to cellular network designs. This extensive investigation highlights the crucial role of the architecture of 5G cellular networks, the widespread use of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology, and the incorporation of device-to-device communication in order to achieve these objectives. While free-space optics (FSO) emerges as a promising solution, its standalone application encounters challenges during unfavorable weather conditions. FSO systems are not affected by flying birds and trees as they rely on line-of sight connectivity. Moreover, the performance of FSO is greatly affected by adverse weather conditions like fog and snow, resulting in considerable performance degradation. This study systematically examines ongoing projects in the same research domain, with a specific focus on hybrid FSO/radio frequency (RF) communication systems. Each technique employed in these models to achieve optimal performance in terms of data rate and Bit Error Rate (BER) for integration into 5G networks is thoroughly documented and analyzed.