Net-centric optical communication for the global information grid
Anurag Dwivedi · Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE · 2006
Optical communications technologies are being actively explored by the defense and security communities as a potential solution to alleviate bandwidth bottlenecks and to provide covert, jam resistant communications without spectrum restrictions. While static fiber-optic networks are widely deployed in the Department of Defense (DoD) communications network, the integration of wireless, free space optical (FSO) communications technology is required to provide end-to-end high bandwidth paths to support mobile defense and security operations. This paper presents an analysis of inherent benefits of optical wireless communications technologies in enabling net-centric applications and discusses specific technology and architectural challenges that need to be overcome before these technologies can be seamlessly integrated in the Global Information Grid (GIG) to fully realize the net-centric vision.