Radio over plastic optical fibers – a tutorial and review

Abstract In this paper, recent advancements in radio over plastic optical fibers are reviewed. Plastic fibers are used in short-range, high data rate communication systems and are considered to be consumer-friendly as they are simpler to install, easy to maintain and its associated components are inexpensive. A few of the challenges faced in employing plastic fibers are its high attenuation and modal dispersion, which limits the transmission range. However, plastic fibers are considered to be a low-cost alternative to be employed in short-range fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) networks as compared to the commonly known silica optical fiber. Advancement from 4G to 5G has paved a way for plastic fiber, which can be employed for simultaneous multi-format transmissions supporting 5G networks. In this paper, the evolution of multi-format transmission and its challenges are also discussed, along with the applications of plastic fibers in systems employing various techniques. Furthermore, the paper discusses the challenges and future prospects of radio over plastic fibers to guide a way for further research in this domain for improving the quality of transmission and linking it with other cutting-edge technologies such as machine learning and blockchain.