Free Space Optics: A Technology on Verge

Global Market Estimates, the FSO market will increase in value from $4.4 billion in 2022 to $47.5 billion in 2027, at a compound each year growth rate of 34.1%. Due to remarkable progress in free space optical (FSO) communication system, a number of potential applications of such systems have increased rapidly. Optical signal transmission through free space is emerging as a significant innovation in optical communication due to its unique features. The system has evolved to such a level that now it is being deployed very rapidly where optical fiber cable is not easy to deploy. FSO is an alternative technology that replaces the existing as optical fiber and radio-frequency (RF) systems. In recent years the FSO system has attracted the attention of researchers considerably as it offers ultra-high data-rate, scalable bandwidth demands, license free spectrum, high security, quick and easy deployability, low cost of installation, low power consumption and many more. Most recently deployed in Ladakh, India in the world's first mountain-top Li-Fi (FSO) laser 5G internet, offers upto 10 Gbps high-speed internet connectivity in the harsh winter conditions (in June, 2023).