• Hardik Prajapati
• Omkar Pabbati

Due to various advantages of FSO, it has become the ultimate solution for last mile problem. Compared to radio frequency, FSO link has much higher data rates and high optical bandwidth, which is suitable for LAN to LAN connectivity and MAN extensions. Although offering advantages over RF and Optical Fiber link, it's widespread implementation has been delayed due to FSO links are subject to atmospheric turbulence and obscuration from clouds, fog, rain, and snow causing performance degradation and possible loss of connectivity. Optical turbulence leads to receiver intensity fluctuations, beam broadening, beam wander, and beam break up; among other effects As the signal travels in air, the attenuation is much higher for long ranges. In this paper the need of free space optical communications (FSO) is discussed and also the effect of attenuation due to rain, fog, wind and clean air.

"The Need and Challenges of Free Space Optical Communication", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 6, page no.161-163, June-2018, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1806408.pdf

"The Need and Challenges of Free Space Optical Communication", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 6, page no. pp161-163, June-2018, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1806408.pdf