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High-Capacity Urban Terrestrial Free-Space Optical Communication Links at km-Scale

Vincent van Vliet, Menno van den Hout, Eduward Tangdiongga, Chigo Okonkwo

Abstract

Free-space optical communication links can enable high-capacity wireless connectivity in urban areas. We discuss the feasibility, challenges, and recent developments for high-capacity urban free-space optical links at kilometer scale.

High-Capacity Urban Terrestrial Free-Space Optical Communication Links at km-Scale

Abstract

Free-space optical communication links can enable high-capacity wireless connectivity in urban areas. We discuss the feasibility, challenges, and recent developments for high-capacity urban free-space optical links at kilometer scale.
Paper Structure (5 sections, 2 figures)

This paper contains 5 sections, 2 figures.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Characteristics of the Kilometer-Scale Urban Free-Space Optical Channel
  3. Communications Subsystem
  4. Optical Front-End
  5. Conclusions

Figures (2)

  • Figure 1: Key atmospheric effects in the urban FSO channel: (a) smoke or smog-induced attenuation through scattering and absorption (b) fog-induced attenuation through scattering, (c) beam spreading and wavefront distortion due to turbulence.
  • Figure 2: Reid Photonloop FSO testbed: (a) elevation profile underneath the urban channel, (b) map illustrating the path across Eindhoven, the Netherlands, (c, d) photographs of the optical terminals installed on the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) campus and the High Tech Campus (HTC), highlighting the scintillometer, (e-g) measured $C_n^2$ (10-minute averaging time) time trace, histogram, and daily trend for August 2025 and (h-j) January 2026 with extinction events indicated in gray.