The anticipated launch of the Sixth Generation (6G) of mobile technology by 2030 will
mark a significant milestone in the evolution of wireless communication, ushering
in a new era with advancements in technology and applications. 6G is expected to deliver
ultra-high data rates and almost instantaneous communications, with three-dimensional
coverage for everything, everywhere, and at any time. In the 6G Radio Access Networks
(RANs) architecture, the Fronthaul connects geographically distributed Remote Units
(RUs) to Distributed/Digital Units (DUs) pool. Among all possible solutions for implementing
6G fronthaul, optical technologies will remain crucial in supporting the 6G fronthaul,
as they offer high-speed, low-latency, and reliable transmission capabilities to meet
the 6G strict requirements. This survey provides an explanation of the 5G and future
6G optical fronthaul concept and presents a comprehensive overview of the current
state of the art and future research directions in 6G optical fronthaul, highlighting
the key technologies and research perspectives fundamental in designing fronthaul
networks for 5G and future 6G. Additionally, it examines the benefits and drawbacks
of each optical technology and its potential applications in 6G fronthaul networks.
This paper aims to serve as a comprehensive resource for researchers and industry
professionals about the current state and future prospects of 6G optical fronthaul
technologies, facilitating the development of robust and efficient wireless networks
of the future.
