Power Over Fiber Pooling as Part of 6G Optical Fronthaul

Key parameters required in 5G advanced networks are higher peak data rates, lower latency but with improved energy efficiency. Those key performance indicators are further pushed forward in the envisioned 6G requirements, among others in achieving real energy efficiency by providing broadband low power communications with efficient powering strategies. Power over fiber (PoF) Pooling in centralized radio access networks with optical switching provides energy aware device control and resource allocation capabilities. Algorithms to implement PoF pooling with different types of optical fibers and supported by battery charge at remote radio heads are developed in a phantom cell scenario showing throughput enhancement while optimizing power consumption. Experiments as proof of concept are performed using a 4 × 4 optical switch at central office optically feeding various RRHs with different power requirements through single mode fiber links of up to 15 km and supported by a bidirectional communication link. The RRH deep sleep mode consumes 5.8 mW. A mobility manager emulates users’ mobility within cells and allows the optimized selection of the awaken cells considering energy efficiency and traffic throughput. Some tests with different multicore fibers are also performed.