Latency and Reliability Analysis of IoT Systems over Fiber Backbone: An Experimental Study
Keywords:
Edge computing, Experimental testbed, Fiber-optic communication, GPON, Internet of things (IoT), Jitter, Latency analysis, Network reliability, Optical backbone networks, Packet delivery ratio (PDR), Packet loss rate (PLR), Real-time monitoringAbstract
This work investigates the latency and reliability characteristics of Internet of Things (IoT) communication systems operating over fiber-optic backbone infrastructures through a rigorous experimental framework. The rapid proliferation of IoT applications—particularly in mission-critical domains such as smart healthcare, industrial automation, and intelligent transportation—has intensified the demand for communication networks that can guarantee deterministic low latency and ultra-high reliability. In this context, fiber-optic backbone networks have emerged as a pivotal enabling technology, owing to their inherently high bandwidth capacity, minimal signal attenuation, and strong immunity to electromagnetic interference. Departing from the limitations of simulation-based analyses, this study adopts a fully experimental methodology grounded in controlled laboratory conditions, utilising real-world hardware components and standardised, repeatable measurement procedures. The experimental design systematically evaluates key performance metrics, including end-to-end latency, jitter, packet delivery ratio (PDR), and overall system reliability. Measurements were conducted across a range of fiber link distances, spanning from 1 km to 60 km, and under diverse network traffic loads to emulate realistic IoT deployment scenarios. The empirical findings reveal a near-linear increase in latency as a function of fiber length, aligning closely with established theoretical propagation delay models. Jitter measurements remained consistently low, indicating stable temporal performance even under increased traffic intensity. Furthermore, the PDR exceeded 99.85% across all experimental conditions, demonstrating the robustness and dependability of fiber-based communication backbones. Reliability analysis, supported by repeated trials and statistical variance assessment, confirms the consistency and reproducibility of the observed results. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive and experimentally validated assessment of fiber-optic backbone performance in IoT environments. The results not only substantiate the suitability of fiber infrastructures for latency-sensitive and reliability-critical IoT applications but also offer a foundational framework for optimising future large-scale IoT deployments.
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