An improved architecture for integrating Fourth Generation wireless and Passive Optical Networks

The necessity to support the rapidly growing high speed broadband services requires the use of latest technologies and quality of service (QoS) control techniques. Two such technologies include Fourth Generation (4G) wireless and New Generation Passive Optical Networks (NG PON). 4G communication technology encompasses both wireless and cellular systems, which aims to provide real-time voice, video and Internet services to the end user with high QoS. Moreover, it offers high throughput and supports mobility. A passive optical network (PON) is a reliable back haul technology, which can provide high bandwidth and is highly cost effective. The combination of 4G with NG-PON creates an access network that is cost efficient, reliable, flexible as well as facilitating mobility and ubiquity. However, this integration has many challenges such as maintaining the QoS of whole network. In this paper, we propose the NG PON as an alternative solution for the point to point fiber in the 4G centralized co-ordinated Multi-Point (COMP) transmission and reception. This architecture is for joint transmission downlink COMP which benefits from the broadcasting transmission in the downlink of PON. Moreover, it serves both fixed and mobile stations. The simulation compares the capital cost of using NG PON against point to point fibre in COMP architecture. The results reveal that up to 80 percent cost reduction can be achieved by using the proposed solution.