In May 2021, Aircision and TNO completed a milestone field test: a 10 Gbps free-space opticslink transmitted successfully across 2.5 km, between TNO's Oude Waalsdorperwegfacility in The Hague and the Luchtwachttoren in Scheveningen. It was the first demonstration of its kind in the Netherlands and a direct continuation of the BackCAT project the two organisations had launched the year before.
The result mattered because it outperformed E-band radio, a common alternative wireless backhaul technology typically limited to around 1 km at similar data rates. Aircision's optical link achieved more than double that distance at full bandwidth, without requiring spectrum licensing.
This field test is crucial for our mission to build high performing FSO systems that meet the demand for worldwide connectivity. By demonstrating that our technology works at 10 Gbps and 2.5 km, we are on our way to outperform the technical specifications set by current E-band solutions. — Robert Hughes, Aircision
TNO's Niel Truyens, Senior Business Developer, added that the project reflected TNO Space's broader ambition to enable secure broadband connectivity while strengthening the competitive position of Dutch suppliers in the telecom market.
Following the test, Aircision and TNO set their sights higher still: 20 Gbps over 5 km for Aircision's first commercial product, with pilots targeted for 2022, a bar the company would go on to far exceed in the years that followed.
FAQ
How does Aircision's FSO compare to E-band radio?
Aircision's optical link reached 10 Gbps over 2.5 km, more than double the effective range of typical E-band radio links at the same data rate, and without spectrum licensing.
Quick facts
- Distance: 2.5 km
- Speed: 10 Gbps
- Location: The Hague to Scheveningen, Netherlands
- Next target at the time: 20Gbps over 5 km by Q4 2021
Original source
Sourced from: TNO Newsroom, 25 May 2021. https://www.tno.nl/en/newsroom/2021/05/aircision-tno-successfully-demonstrate/
Also covered by
Bits&Chips,"Aircision and TNO hit 10 Gb/s in long-range FSO tests" (2021). https://bits-chips.com/article/aircision-and-tno-hit-10-gb-s-in-long-range-fso-tests/
