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The demand for high capacity, high speed real time communication in recent years has lead to the growing interest in development of radio on fibre technology. The passive picocell system is a radical new concept invented at BT laboratories, design for high capacity, short range, "unpowered" wireless networks of the future. The passive picocell system provides a favourable architecture for the third generation mobile communication systems. However, a major issue is the need to identify a low cost and compact antenna unit, assembled with the optical device which will require large number of units.

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Passive radio on fibre technology

 

The concept emphasise on inexpensive remote site deployment of only an antenna and a optical-to-radio transceiver chip assembly(EAM), hence steering complexity to a centrally located distribution station. Broadband interactive service is achieved by optically supported millimetre wave link as a final drop to the subscriber at the remote site. This optical-fibre and photonic device offer many advantages such as low transmission loss over long distances, light weight, small size, broadband, immunity to cross-talk and electromagnetic interference. It is also independent of different service providers, hence extending its application to future system that have yet been standardised or developed.

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Electro-absorption modulator (EAM)

 

 

The EAM is a single component optical-to-radio transceiver chip made of indium phosphide material to enable a full duplex link for the passive picocell system. Depending on the bias set to vary its transmission or absorption sensitivity, it performs a dual role, as a light modulator and a photodetector. The major concern with the EAM for this project is to investigate into methods of integrating the antenna with the EAM module, hence producing a complete remote site assembly.

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