Hybrid Wireless-Optical Broadband Access Network (WOBAN)

Hybrid wireless–optical broadband access network (WOBAN) is a promising architecture for future access networks. It combines the advantages of two diverse technologies – an optical back end drives a wireless mesh in the front end. It is a cost-effective solution compared to traditional optical access networks since fiber does not need to penetrate to the end user. WOBAN offers untethered flexibility due to its wireless mesh in the front end; yet it provides high transport capacity compared to traditional wireless solutions because of its optical back end. This chapter defines WOBAN, reviews different flavors of its architecture, and provides a comprehensive outline of various design models, coupled with efficient protocols to manage the network. It also argues why the combination of optical and wireless technologies should provide an improved solution for future network design.