Study on Amplified Single-Channel Millimeter-Wave Radio Over Fiber for Improving Fronthaul Data Transfer Performance

The advancement toward fifth-generation (5G) networks heralds a transformative era in the mobile sector, poised to revolutionize various intelligent automation applications and the Internet of Things (IoT), With its rapid connectivity and minimal latency, 5G is a crucial driver for innovations in IoT, AI, autonomous vehicles, virtual reality, and beyond. Millimeter wave (mmWave) technology is emerging as a key enabler for 5G, offering high-capacity, high-mobility, and long-range communication capabilities. Among the potential of 5G, Radio over Fiber (RoF) technology emerges as a solution to address the demands of 5G by seamlessly integrating wireless communication with optical fiber transmission systems, offering bandwidth, transmission capacity, and economic benefits. Evaluating critical parameters such as the Q factor, bit error rate (BER), and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) over optical spans up to 20 km, the study highlights the importance of semiconductor optical amplifier integration (SOA). The incorporation of SOA as a post-amplifier enhances signal robustness, improving Q factor and BER while managing SNR, ultimately meeting ITU standards, and ensuring signal integrity in 5G environments.