TY - JOUR
T1 - Towards 6G: Unified RoF Fronthaul Using a DML-Based Centralized Free-Running Laser for Simultaneous VLC and mmWave Transmission
AU - Romero-Huedo, J.
AU - Mora, J.
AU - Vallejo, L.
AU - Apolo, J.A.
AU - Ortega, B.
PY - 2025/12/8
Y1 - 2025/12/8
N2 - This work experimentally demonstrates, for the first time, a unified Radio-over-Fiber (RoF) fronthaul for simultaneous visible light communication (VLC) and millimeter-wave (mmWave) transmission, enabled by a directly modulated laser (DML) in a centralized free-running configuration. Photonic heterodyning of dual optical carriers is used to generate high-frequency signals with cost-effective and scalable operation, suitable for 6G fronthaul networks. Two hybrid scenarios are validated: (i) a Light-Emitting Diode (LED)-based VLC/mmWave link for low-bandwidth Internet of Things (IoT) -oriented services and (ii) a LASER-based VLC/mmWave link for high-speed indoor communications. Optimized power levels achieve error vector magnitude (EVM) values of 2.1% for VLC and 3.7% for mmWave, supporting data rates up to 1.65 Gbps and 692 Mbps, respectively. The inherent tunability of the free-running approach allows straightforward extension to sub-THz frequencies, positioning this architecture as a cost-efficient and future-proof solution for optical-wireless convergence toward 6G networks.
AB - This work experimentally demonstrates, for the first time, a unified Radio-over-Fiber (RoF) fronthaul for simultaneous visible light communication (VLC) and millimeter-wave (mmWave) transmission, enabled by a directly modulated laser (DML) in a centralized free-running configuration. Photonic heterodyning of dual optical carriers is used to generate high-frequency signals with cost-effective and scalable operation, suitable for 6G fronthaul networks. Two hybrid scenarios are validated: (i) a Light-Emitting Diode (LED)-based VLC/mmWave link for low-bandwidth Internet of Things (IoT) -oriented services and (ii) a LASER-based VLC/mmWave link for high-speed indoor communications. Optimized power levels achieve error vector magnitude (EVM) values of 2.1% for VLC and 3.7% for mmWave, supporting data rates up to 1.65 Gbps and 692 Mbps, respectively. The inherent tunability of the free-running approach allows straightforward extension to sub-THz frequencies, positioning this architecture as a cost-efficient and future-proof solution for optical-wireless convergence toward 6G networks.
U2 - 10.1109/jlt.2025.3640961
DO - 10.1109/jlt.2025.3640961
M3 - Article
SN - 0733-8724
SP - 1
EP - 11
JO - Journal of Lightwave Technology
JF - Journal of Lightwave Technology
ER -