5G new radio photonically-amplified Xhaul

Abstract This work reports the implementation and experimental performance analysis of innovative 5G new radio (NR) photonically-amplified mobile backhauls and fronthauls. We claim to utilize fiber-optic links not only for data transmission and transport but also for amplifying ultrawideband radiofrequency (RF) signals from all mobile communication generations, including the current 5G and future 6G networks. The photonics-assisted RF amplification (PAA) digital performance investigation has been evaluated from baseband, for the first time in literature, to extremely high frequency (EHF), demonstrating the feasibility of using the proposed solution for enhancing the power efficiency and/or extending the backhaul link reach. Furthermore, the PAA-based 5G NR fronthaul deployment enabled to increase the system throughput in 12.3 times, attaining 13.5 Gbit/s, and providing root mean square error vector magnitude (EVMRMS) in accordance to the 3GPP requirements for bandwidths up to 400 MHz.