Trends in next generation optical access networks and a proposed hybrid optical/wireless wide-area access network

This paper first reviews trends toward the next-generation optical access networks; one of the key points is how to utilize wavelength-division multiplexing. It also overviews the technique of fiber-wireless access as a candidate to provide wireless connection in the last one step of the future access network. In the latter half, a novel hybrid optical/wireless access network is proposed; the importance of microwave photonics technologies is emphasized. The proposed network provides next-generation optical access and high radio frequency wireless access on the same platform.