The Fiber Connection

Is it the End of the LAN as We Know It? - Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Many people today simply can’t imagine life without smart phones and tablets. These devices are tiny, powerful machines that handle virtually all of our daily computing and communication needs—sending and receiving phone calls and instant messages, surfing the Internet, accessing email, scheduling, playing audio and video and even accepting credit card payments. Let’s face it—most of us prefer to have a single device and a single bill, which is why many are choosing to use their cellular service for Internet access in the home. Even companies are finding it easier to reimburse their employees for a smart phone or tablet than forcing them to be tethered to the Local Area Network. With this trend comes the growth of in-building and metro distributed antenna systems (DAS) and enhanced cellular networks, enabling businesses of all sizes to establish significantly lower cost business models.

Over the past year, we’ve seen 3G mobile networks with speeds of about 3.5 Mbps being rapidly replaced with 4G technology that uses Long Term Evolutions (LTE) or WiMAX to provide speeds of more than 100 Mbps. This is supporting business applications that used to require wired networks and entertainment applications like video on demand and IPTV. In addition to the faster speeds, 4G mobile broadband networks significantly reduce latency and are able to transmit voice over the same network as data, turning handheld devices into VoIP phones. With all this wireless technology offering speeds that rival those of wired networks, is it the end of the LAN as we know it?

For many, the answer is already yes. Home owners and small- to medium-size businesses are turning to 4G service from the likes of Verizon and AT&T. With the use of a 4G mobile broadband router, it’s easy to share a 4G connection with multiple devices and create a small local area wireless network. This is enabling businesses to establish instant temporary networks at different venues and events, or permanent connectivity in situations where it’s not feasible to have a wired network. Network routers and switches also enable businesses to establish wireless access to their Virtual Private Network (VPN) over 4G mobile broadband networks. Many businesses are currently using this capability as a backup, but as speeds increase, we may see more deploying 4G as their primary network connection.

Another means of establishing 4G wireless LANs is through the use of DAS (Distributed Antenna Systems)—both in-building and metro. These networks of separated antenna nodes connected to a common source, extend 4G cell coverage to a geographic area or throughout a building. A combination of an in-building DAS and 4G router/switch has the potential to completely replace a wired network. Unlike wired networks, there is no need to upgrade cabling or expensive network equipment to accommodate faster network speeds.

With 4G service from a cell tower or from a DAS, signals from wireless devices travel a relatively short distance through the air to antennas. The antennas themselves still need to be connected to a network, and optical fiber is the obvious choice. Distributing RF signals over fiber, versus copper, offers up to 100 times more bandwidth with reduced EMI and better RF link noise performance, easing network congestion. Fiber also supports significantly longer distances that enable cell towers and DAS antennas to be placed further away from the central station.

With the explosion of bandwidth intensive smart-phones and tablets, service providers are rapidly replacing T-1/E-1 copper lines with fiber to connect cell towers. Over the past three years, AT&T has more than tripled the number of fiber-served cell sites. The use of fiber backhaul systems for cellular service will provide the capacity to support rapidly-growing IP packet traffic, increasing 4G mobile deployments. Fiber will support the next major phase of mobile telecommunications standards, including 5G, expected to offer multiple gigabit speeds. All of this is great news for the fiber industry, mobile device users and businesses looking for alternatives to wired networks. With fiber supporting faster mobile speeds and enhanced capabilities, it might just be the end of the LAN as we know it.

fiber LAN, local area network, fiber to the tower, DAS, fiber to the antenna