Multi-hop Sub-THz-FSO: A Technique for High-rate Uninterrupted Backhauling in 6G

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential of multi-hop sub-THz and FSO networks as a high-rate, reliable backhaul solution for 6G, highlighting benefits and practical challenges for large-scale deployment.

Contribution

It investigates the potentials and challenges of joint sub-THz and FSO multi-hop networks for 6G backhaul, proposing a promising yet complex technology.

Findings

Sub-THz-FSO networks can enable high-rate backhauling.

Deployment challenges include practical implementation issues.

Potential for reliable, high-capacity backhaul in 6G.

Abstract

Moving towards $6^{\text{th}}$ generation (6G), backhaul networks require significant improvements to support new use-cases with restricted joint capacity and availability requirements. In this paper, we investigate the potentials and challenges of joint sub-teraHertz (sub-THz) and free space optical (FSO), in short sub-THz-FSO, multi-hop networks as a candidate technology for future backhaul communications. As we show, with a proper deployment, sub-THz-FSO networks have the potential to provide high-rate reliable backhauling, while there are multiple practical challenges to be address before they can be used in large-scale.