Guest Column | June 1, 2022

4 Key Applications Fueling Free Space Optics (FSO) Communication Market Development

By Shreya Bhute, Global Market Insights

The fast strides in wireless communications along with the thriving need for various alternatives to conventional radio frequency (RF) or microwave links, in recent years, have paved the path for significant advances in optical technology. On account of this, the free space optics (FSO) communication market is set to gain remarkable traction. The rising usage of smart devices and the surging need for high-speed data applications has stirred the need for several communication systems for providing cost-effective as well as high-speed connectivity to end-users.

FSO communication is a concept that deals with achieving free-space data transmission as per the requirements of the future technologies, given its cost-effectiveness, easy deployment, strong security and high bandwidth. It marks a widespread presence in telecommunication and computer networking, point-to-point Los links, communications between the spacecraft, including satellite constellation as well as security and military applications. The free space optics communication market will also grow with the increasing concerns of bottleneck broadband connectivity problems.

Listed below are some prominent applications that will favor the growth of this industry space.

Rising deployment in mobile backhaul

The rapid expansion of communication infrastructure leading to the higher deployment of 5G technology has given rise to the increasing levels of data transmission over networks. Owing to this, hybrid free-space optic (HFSO) technology along with wireless radio frequencies are largely integrated into robust and highly scalable backhaul architectures.

These solutions drastically optimize the data transmission to offer enhanced real-time communication with more efficient cost-per-bit of transmission. The FSO communication market will also grow with the surging need to carry cellular telephone traffic from the antenna towers back to the facilities that are wired into public switched telephone networks.

Higher demand for satellite applications

Free space optic communication is largely deployed in satellites to allow the creation of advanced mesh networks for more efficient as well as effective communication across vast distances. It has emerged as a key technology in solving the increasing bandwidth limitations with respect to space communication as it can reduce the weight, size, and power of satellite communication systems. To add further, these optical links ensure fast connections and are also susceptible to atmospheric disruptions as well as long orbital delays.

Greater usage for enterprise connectivity

The free space optics communication industry is set to experience significant expansion from enterprise connectivity applications as it allows multiple gigabyte transmissions simultaneously and is more secure compared to transmitting data over public networks. Using these solutions, larger enterprises can connect to networks by eliminating the fees for leased lines as well as fiber cables, leading to greater savings. The rising deployment of point-to-point radio-based technologies and the escalating need for high network security and low monthly costs in enterprises will add positive impetus to the market progression.

Robust abilities in disaster recovery

Considering its rising advantages, including high bandwidth, license-free spectrum and secured transmission as opposed to RF communication, free space optics has gained great attention in network disaster recovery. This wireless technology is also used for recovering networks which is partially disconnected during terrorist attacks.

To add further, the FSO communication industry is also expanding with the increasing penetration in metro network extensions for extending the existing metropolitan area fiber rings for connecting new networks. Rising demand in service acceleration for providing instant services to fiber-optic customers will additionally contribute to the market expansion.