Towards broadband global optical and wireless networking

We present a novel non-conventional approach to the future optical and wireless hybrid transport network that is capable of supporting the dominating kinds of traffic, i.e., voice/real-time, wireless and packet traffic, in a single transport network. The proposed model combines different technologies as connection and connectionless networks, optical cable and wireless (microwave/millimetre wave or optical wireless) and it is suitable for a variety of purposes and services in order to achieve global broadband networking features. Our new networking model contains an extension to the wireless world in order to achieve mobility and personalisation of the connection. It consists of an upgrade of real-time traffic with a microwave modulated optical wave, in order to carry out conventional mobile wireless via optical fibres though long distances and without a significant distortion. The whole available bandwidth can be fully exploited in the hybrid network. In the IP part of the network, quality of service can be differentiated for various classes of packets and network reliability/survivability can be categorised for the whole hybrid network. This substitutes the complete and revolutionary shifting to packet traffic, that many promote, with smooth evolutionary upgrades.