Enabling Low-Cost Fronthaul Transmission with 4Gbps VCSEL-APD Free Space Optic Link

real-time VCSEL-APD optical wireless digitized RF fronthaul is demonstrated, achieving a >40dB RF dynamic range, <1.6% EVM and 160MHz RF bandwidth over a 10m optical wireless link with a 4Gbps underlying data rate. A relaxed alignment tolerance is suitable for cell-free MIMO deployment.