These projects
facilitated the understanding of the basic principles and limitations of FSO communications.
These projects also resulted in the development of some of the underlying
technologies, some of which were later adapted for FSO technology for commercial
applications.
FSO technology didn??™t find much appeal in commercial applications until the mid
1990s. With the explosive growth of information technology, the need for a higher bandwidth
communication medium was growing. Although much of the need was being met by
cable-based technologies, such as Ethernet, Fibre Channel, DSL, and cable modems, FSO
technology provided a unique opportunity to fill the gap where cable-based technologies
were not viable. Additionally, earlier advances in fiber-optic technology provided lowcost
components that could be used in FSO products, making them commercially viable.
With the understanding of FSO technology, opportunities for niche applications, and the
Optical Wireless Mesh Networks 255
availability of the underlying components, several vendors started developing commercial
FSO products in the 1990s.
When Does This Solution Fit?
In order to understand where this solution fits, we need to start by considering some
of the benefits of this solution.
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