Optical Wireless:

Low cost, High-speed Optical Access

G. Stephen Mecherle

fSONA Communications Corporation

> The Access Challenge

Ø There is a large demand for broadband connectivity and the services that it can provide

> Current Solutions Cannot Solve the Problem

ØConventional solutions have bandwidth or cost limitations:

Ø Copper – DSL, cable modems and T-1’s have limited bandwidth for business class services.

Ø Fiber - has the capacity but slow deployment and high cost.

Ø RF – spectrum issues, roof rights, interference, slow deployment and bandwidth limitations.

> Broadband Access Technologies

Medium - HighHighHighLowInitial Investments for New Subscribers

No/Yes (variesYesNoYesProtocol Independence

Depends on frequency band

NoNo No Spectrum License Required

1 –3 months (License Spectrum and Roof Rights)

4 – 12 months (labor and rights

of way)

6-12 monthsHoursTime to Deploy

Medium – HighHighHighMedium –High

Availability

YesNo YesNoCapacity Constrained

$40k - $60k$150k-$200kN/A$12k - $30kCost of OC-3 Link

Radio FrequencyFiber Optic Cable

CopperFree Space Optics

Source: The Strategis Group and fSONA

> FSO - A Market Need Fulfilled

Ø Low-cost

Ø High fiber-like bandwidth

Ø No spectrum licensing issues

Ø Rapid deployment and re-deployment

Ø Rapid ROI per new subscriber

Ø Complements existing infrastructure

Ø Freedom from RFI, EMI

Ø Improved transmission security

>

FSO Provides Solutions to Several Different Connectivity Problems

Carriers

Ø Last mile access

Ø Network extension of fiber rings

Ø Protected link connectivity

LAN to LAN Interconnection

Ø LAN bridging for office and campus networks

Ø Campus environments

> FSO Applications

Premium Cable Services

Ø Network redundancyØ Parallel paths in trunk and

branch networksØ Extension for MTU office

complexes

Personal Cellular Service (“PCS”)/Cellular Networks

Ø PCS Backhaul

Ø Next Generation Network Enhancements

Ø Over 50% of outages due to backhaul failure

> Two Distinct Market OpportunitiesCarrier and Enterprise

Application DataRate

Source: The Strategis Group Source: The Strategis Group

> Optical Wireless - Two Colors

» Legacy optical wireless products operate near 800nm§ Light is collected by iris and focused onto retina

» Newer optical wireless products now available near 1550 nm§ Light is absorbed by cornea and lens§ Light does not reach retina

» A number of parameters affect choice of wavelength for optical wireless systems

> Trade Parameters Related to Wavelength

» Eye Safety*

» Diffraction

» Background Radiation*

» Atmospheric Attenuation

» Receiver Sensitivity

» Technology Infrastructure*

*Favor 1550 nm technology

> BioPhysics: Cornea and Lens Absorb Wavelengths > 1400 nm

Maximum Eye-safe Intensity ~ 50x Higher For 1550 nm Than 780 nm

λ < 1400 nmLIGHT FOCUSES ON RETINA

λ > 1400 nmLIGHT ABSORBED IN CORNEA AND LENS

CORNEA

LENS RETINA

CORNEA

LENS RETINA

> Eye Safety

» fSONA policy not to deploy equipment unless it is safe for normal viewing§ IEC Class 1M§ Safe for normal viewing at emitting aperture (without

binoculars or collecting optics)§ Use of binoculars or collecting optics within the “NHZ-A” is

not a reasonably foreseeable event» Biophysics of corneal and lens absorption prevents

wavelengths > 1400nm from focusing on retina§ 800nm collimated light is concentrated 100,000x on the

retina» ˜ 50x larger power density for 1550nm rel. to 800nm§ Can use 7x smaller transmit aperture at 1550nm, or§ Can use 17 dB extra power for improved link performance

» Greater fog penetration» Higher data rates» Longer distances

> Legacy FSO Products Are Not “Carrier Class”

» Inadequate pointing stability for tall buildings and high winds

» Not environmentally qualified for outdoor operation§ Temperature extremes from desert to arctic§ Lack of hermeticity

» Low power lasers (near 800 nm)§ 50x power limitation due to eye safety standards§ Short range§ Limited fog penetration

» Inadequate dynamic range§ Conditions vary from clear sunny day to heavy fog§ Deployment over a range of operational link distances

» Some legacy FSO products are protocol-specific

> fSONA FSO Products Deliver Carrier Class Performance

» Ultra-high equipment reliability§ Testing per Telcordia standards§ Sealed in a cast aluminum enclosure (-40C to 60C)

» Up to 99.999% weather availability over practical link distances§ Industry leading clear air link margin§ Unique high-power, low cost, eyesafe 1550 nm laser

technology with Automatic Power Control.» Protocol independent, physical layer transceiver§ Scalable to OC-48 per wavelength

» Robust fixed and active pointing capabilities§ Operate in 120 km/hr winds and flexible towers

» Low Cost Design§ Well suited to economies of high volume production§ Modular for commonality and shared parts across the

platforms

> The SONAbeam Product Family

SONAbeam S series SONAbeam M Series SONAbeam L Series

Ø1550 nm WavelengthØProtocol independent

ØIEC, CDRH Class 1M eye-safeØEnvironmentally Qualified (–40 to +60 C)

ØMultiple Mounting Options

>

- M Product LinesØ Data rates from 100 Mbps to 622 MbpsØ Power: -48 VDC, 110 / 220 VAC OptionØ Four lasers @ 160 mW peakØ Eight inch collecting aperture

- S Product LinesØ Data rates - 100 Mbps to 1.25 GbpsØ Power: 110 / 220 VACØ Two lasers @ 160 mW peakØ Four inch collecting aperture

Product/Data Rate (Mbps) Ranges (meters)

SONAbeam 155-S 50-2500

SONAbeam 155-M 100-4000

SONAbeam 622-S 50-2000

SONAbeam 622-M 100-3000

SONAbeam 1250-S 50-1000

fSONA Products Meet the Bandwidth Demands of Today and Tomorrow

> SONAbeam – L Series with Active Pointing

Ø Active Pointed SystemØ Enables new applications

Ø Towers and other flexible mounting options

Ø Longer ranges for backhaul

ØProvides scalability to higher data ratesØ Up to 2.5 Gbps per wavelengthØ OC-192 and beyond with WDMØ Exploits mainstream fiber coupled

telecom industry

>SONAbeam Monitoring & Diagnostics

» Receive Signal Strength

» Transmitter Power Settings

» Laser Bias Currents

» Laser Modulation Drive Currents

» Laser Temperatures

» Other Internal Temperatures and Humidities

» Power Supply Voltages and Currents

» Cooler Controller Currents

» Clock Recovery Status (TX/RX))

» Network Signal Status (TX/RX)

» Extensive Historical Logging Ability

> SONAbeam Link Configuration -Simple and Adaptable

> fSONA Advantages

» 1550 nm wavelength§ 50x higher eye-safe power levels§ 4x less background solar radiation§ Terrestrial fiber-optic technology infrastructure

» Protocol-independent» Higher laser power

§ 640 mW peak vs. 20-100 mW peak§ Comparable $/mW to 800 nm lasers

» Super fast f/0.67 receiving optics§ Enables medium range fixed pointed unit

» Carrier-grade reliability§ Telcordia qualification testing for outdoor telecom application§ Pointing stability in 120 km/hr wind (survive 160 km/hr)§ Graceful degradation with four laser transmitters

» Designed for low-cost volume manufacturing§ Minimized manual labor for alignment§ Deliver volumes necessary for ILEC deployment

> Carrier Class Products Require Carrier Class Testing

» Presently no test standards specifically for FSO outdoor equipment

» fSONA has adapted Telcordia (aka Bellcore) standards for application to FSO products

» GR-487 Generic Requirements for Electronic Equipment Cabinets

» GR-63 Network Equipment-Building System (NEBS) Requirements: Physical Protection

» GR-2834 Generic Requirements for Basic Electrical, Mechanical & Environmental Criteria for Outside Plant Equipment

» GR-1089 Electromagnetic Compatibility and Electrical Safety -Generic Criteria for Network Telecommunications Equipment

> SONAbeam 155-M Testing

•Wind-driven rain test•Underwater immersion leakage test•100% humidity, 35C salt fog test•Pointing stability test under 120 km/h wind•Full intl. transportation qualification;•Shock test: dropped 14 times•Vibration testing•Thermal soaks: 60 C and –40C•Thermal cycling: -40 to 60C

Laser modulation currentReceived signal powerBER

> SONAbeam 155-M Testing (continued)

•Radiated Emissions•Conducted Emissions•Radiated Susceptibility•Conducted Susceptibility•Electrically Fast Transient (EFT) Immunity Test•Magnetic Immunity Test•Voltage Dips, Interruptions and Voltage Variation•Harmonic Current Emissions Test•Surge Immunity Test (lightening strike) •Electrostatic Discharge Test (ESD)

> THERMAL QUALIFICATION TESTING: - 40°C TO 60°C

> LASER TEMP vs. OUTDOOR AMBIENT

Laser Temperature vs. Outdoor Ambient [ Four actively cooled lasers ]

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800

TIME [minutes]

Laser Temperature ( Qty 4 )

Chamber Temperature( e.g. Outdoor Ambient )

Casting Temperature ( Heat Sink)

70°C (158°F)

60°C (140°F)

50°C (122°F)

40°C (122°F)

30°C (86°F)

20°C (68°F)

10°C (50°F)

?T=39.5°C ( 71°F )

> 5000 METERS LINK

> ERROR FREE TRANSMISSION

OC3

PN15

>

Second TerminalLocation

Second TerminalLocation

Second TerminalLocation

• Clear air turbulence• Heavy torrential rain• Solar conjunction• Through the fog• In the fog

SONAbeam Top Performer in All Atmospheric Environments

Second TerminalLocationSecond Terminal

Location

> World Class Development and Manufacturing Facility

Ø Experienced team in electro-optical and mechanical high tech, high volume manufacturing

Ø ISO 9001 compliant - in progress for Q4, 2002 full certification Ø Modular design allows for;

ØRapid/ volume productionØMinimum touch time reduces variable labor costØ450 links per month, single shift

> Conclusion

» Optical Wireless: Mature, ready-to-go§ High fiber-like capacity§ Availability: up to 99.999%§ Low cost per bps§ Rapid deployment§ Suppliers at 800nm and 1550nm

» 1550nm Advantages§ ˜ 50x higher eyesafe power levels for improved link

performance§ Background radiation 4x lower§ Fiber technology infrastracture, e.g. EDFAs and DWDM

» fSONA Systems - 1550nm§ Carrier-class outdoor-qualified units§ Designed for high volume manufacturing§ Production units available now up to 622 Mbps