Broadband Access utilizing the Unlicensed Wireless 60 GHz Band and Free Space Optics

The exploration of wireless alternatives to Broadband access has continued to be very important to service providers. The Line-of-Sight (LOS) Free Space Laser (FSL) and 60-GHz radios are two promising wireless alternatives since they fall in the FCC license –free spectrum and thereby mitigate the tremendous expense of spectrum acquisition. However, the FSL solution is very limited as a carrier solution because of its very short (<300 m) range carrier when a 99.95% or higher link availability is required. The license-free 60 GHz radio can deliver similar links over a much longer distance than FSL solutions when a higher link availability of 99.999% is required. The 60-GHz OC-24 link can reach 460 to 870 meters over continental US, depending on the rain region and link availability percentage (4-nine to 5-nine). Furthermore, it is relatively more robust than an FSL link in dense fog, sheet rain or severe sand storm weather conditions.