Performance Analysis of Radio Over Fiber Link Using MZM External Modulator

The advancements in the field of communication technology and emergence of heterogeneous multimedia applications have led to a paradigm shift from wired networking infrastructure to an optoelectronic networking interface in order to achieve higher transmission efficiency. Radio over Fiber (RoF) is an attractive technology for broadband wireless internet access scenarios as backbone data is carried between base stations using optical fiber providing the user wireless connectivity in the area of coverage. In the present work, we have given a brief description of RoF technology, various optical modulation mechanisms involved along with the recent advancements. Further, in this paper a two-channel RoF link is proposed using Mach Zehnder Modulator (MZM) as external modulator. The performance of proposed link is evaluated at transmission distance of 10, 20, and 30 km for extinction ratio of MZM varying from 10 to 30 dB using Q Factor as performance metrics.