FUTON

Current two big trends in wireless communications are the development of new broadband component and the integration of heterogeneous wireless networks, to achieve the vision f the so-called 4G network. The FUTON project addresses both issues by proposing the development of a hybrid fiber-radio infrastructure transparently connecting remote antenna units to a central unit where a joint processing can be performed. This allows the development of virtual MIMO concepts to achieve broadband wireless transmission, and also inter-cell interference cancellation. Furthermore the fact that several heterogeneous systems are co-localized enables the development of efficient Common Radio Resource Management procedures.

The focus of the project includes two main components: one, the dominant, dealing with technical aspects and a second addressing business / deployment models related with the techniques under study. At the technical level the main goals are

- Specify, design, implement and provide proof of concept for a hybrid optical-radio infrastructure enabling the integration of heterogeneous systems including the broadband component of future wireless systems
- Exploit the potentialities offered by the transparent infrastructure to specify and develop the PHY and MAC layer of the broadband wireless system based on distributed processing.
- Exploit the potentialities offered by the infrastructure for distribution of heterogeneous radio services and develop mechanisms for inter-system coordination and optimum usage of the radio resources and provide the proof of concept.
And in terms of deployment/ business models:
- Evaluate the implications on the current wireless architecture models of the FUTON concept, determine cost models for upgradeability / replacement and provide roadmaps for evolution and standardization.

The FUTON consortium brings together expertise from the areas of wireless and optical communications, allowing synergies between these two areas.
Duration: 30 months (January 2008 - June 2010)
Total Cost: € 10.5 million
EC Contribution: € 7.0 million

Objectives:
The FUTON project aims to research develop and validate a flexible architecture for wireless systems based on the joint processing of the radio signals from distinct remote antenna units and supported by a transparent fibre infrastructure. This architecture will enable the high bit rates targeted in the broadband component of future wireless systems and to provide a framework for the integration of heterogeneous wireless system.