fSONA expands free-space optics package

fSONA Communications has added two products designed for shorter links to its family of free-space optics solutions. The 622-S is optimized for links under 1.4 miles, while the 622-M covers the space up to two miles. Both are intended for use in metro networks, where speed and bandwidth are priorities and distances are shorter, said fSONA President-CEO Theresa Charbonneau.

The new products enable “anyone who wants over 100 megabits [of bandwidth to get it], because they’re going up to gigabit speed,” Charbonneau said. “There’s definitely demand from larger city areas and from larger carriers for that kind of bandwidth.”

Charbonneau said fSONA is developing products for carriers who have previously been reticent about using FSO but are beginning to explore the space.

“We have been inundated with RFIs and RFPs from carriers all over the world, which to me is a sign that they're finally beginning to look at it as very relevant to include in their networks and their network planning,” she said.

Because weather several affects FSO performance, reliability has been a key factor in past decisions not to deploy the technology. But Charbonneau said fSONA’s products deliver six 9s of reliability in all weather conditions--a factor that carriers find attractive.

“Our products have been specifically designed for carriers,” she said, noting that fSONA has “put in features that were specifically aimed at carriers and, without which, carriers would not even consider free space optics … including ruggedness and stability, mean time before failure, certification and basic power performance.”

FSO’s newfound popularity is also built on the carriers’ need for redundant networks and a desire to conserve financial resources in a tough economy.

“Not only can you put them in as a back-up and have them there connecting buildings … but you can actually use that back-up capability to provide additional speed or capacity even if the network is down,” Charbonneau said. “The carriers are not just looking at it for back-up. They’re looking at it for backhaul and as part of the metro service.”