Bala K Chandran feels that FSO is a perfect fit for filling in niche areas left out by traditional players

As most service providers have failed to deliver fast Internet access, our appetite for bandwidth has remained insatiable. Analysts are now swearing by a technology called Free Space Optics (FSO) to resolve last mile connectivity issues. Srikanth R P reports

Around two years ago, broadband was a much-hyped market opportunity. Lots of players entered this space promising fast Internet access. Today, none of the players are optimistic. A key reason for failure: the last mile infrastructure for providing the link to the customer from the main hub accounts for most of the cost of a broadband network. In addition, there are the usual problems like getting permission from different agencies for laying down fibre, which all add to extra running costs. So what is the solution? The answer may lie in a technology called Free Space Optics (FSO), which is getting huge attention in countries like the US.

What is FSO?
FSO is a line-of-sight technology that uses lasers or light pulses to provide bandwidth connections. Service providers are excited over this technology because it gives them the ability to link huge buildings within a couple of days. Also, since it uses air and not fibre as the transport medium, the cost savings are considerable. An added benefit is that since FSO is a non-radio frequency technology, there are no licenses to be obtained for deploying it.
For FSO to work, all one needs is an optical transceiver with a laser transmitter and a receiver to provide bi-directional capability. Each FSO system uses a high-power optical source, plus a lens that transmits light through the atmosphere to another lens receiving the data. In addition, FSO allows service providers to deliver flexible bandwidth requirements as needed by a customer. For instance, a company may require a higher amount of bandwidth for a few days during a conference. FSO can make this happen.

Vendors like Krone are naturally optimistic on the potential of this technology. Says Bala K Chandran, managing director, Krone Communications India, “FSO is a perfect fit for filling in niche areas that are left out by traditional players. For example, the problem of last mile connectivity can be effectively addressed by FSO. FSO can also be used by telecom operators to extend an existing network or to connect new networks cost-effectively. We expect the deployments of FSO to pick up in huge buildings and in campuses. FSO can also be deployed as a redundant link to back up fibre.” For the FSO foray, Krone has a strategic alliance with an Israeli company called Optical Access.

Krone has already deployed this technology in Orchid Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals. Orchid wanted to connect two buildings located across a busy road in a cost-effective way. The option of laying fibre for connectivity was ruled out as digging across the road was not permitted. Even if permission was granted, the cost of implementing a fibre optic network would have been prohibitive. With FSO the company has reasons to cheer; the two infrared terescopes which were installed on each of the two buildings provide a throughput of 10 Mbps.

While service providers are eager to tap huge cities wanting high speed connectivity, most of them are reluctant to enter the market because of the high cost involved in digging and laying fibre cables. Also, once fibre is deployed it becomes a sunk cost, and cannot be redeployed if a customer wants to relocate. This is where FSO with its flexibility and easy-to-deploy capability can provide the much-needed solution. A service provider can start generating revenues using an FSO system rather than waiting for municipal approval to dig up roads.

The eternal problem of security is a non-issue in the case of FSO. This is because FSO transmits data via light pulses, and it is hard to find a link in the air to hack. Also, if someone does manage to intercept a signal, one can know immediately as the link at the receiving unit would be interrupted.

Challenges
While FSO is a great technology, it is not the answer to every problem. FSO can provide connectivity up to a maximum of four kilometres, so if a company wants to link up its offices spread over huge distances, a VSAT would be more relevant. Also, being a line-of-sight technology, interference of any kind can pose problems. Factors like rain and fog can disrupt a signal. Beyond these challenges, FSO can be a killer technology to solve problems like last mile connectivity.

As in the US, analysts believe that in India too FSO will first begin as a complementing technology to optic fibre links rather than as a replacement. And as customers get convinced about the technology, one can expect FSO deployments to be seen in applications like disaster recovery and storage area networks.