Orthogonal frequency division multiple access time division multiple access-passive optical networks OFDMA TDMA PON architecture for 4G and beyond mobile backhaul

A method for network communication using a plurality of base stations and an optical backhaul network, the method comprising:

• generating an optical double sideband (ODSB) optical orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) signal on an optical wavelength, with the ODSB optical OFDMA signal being composed of a plurality of OFDMA subcarriers;
• modulating each of the plurality of OFDMA subcarriers using multi-level modulation;
• propagating each of the plurality of OFDMA subcarriers to different base stations using a single optical wavelength over a passive optical network (PON) using a passive optical splitter;
• delivering the ODSB optical OFDMA signal to a plurality of different base stations using a passive optical splitter;
• extracting traffic for each of the plurality of base stations in an electronic-domain using OFDMA subcarrier de-multiplexing, wherein the extracted traffic is remodulated in a wireless signal format;
• transmitting a wireless signal using antennas at each of the plurality of base stations;
• and
• recovering and processing the wireless signal from the plurality of base stations.