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arXiv · 2412.16798

Optical Wireless Communications: Enabling the Next Generation Network of Networks

Aravindh Krishnamoorthy·Hossein Safi·Othman Younus·Hossein Kazemi·Isaac N. O. Osahon·Mingqing Liu·Yi Liu·Sina Babadi·Rizwana Ahmad·Asim Ihsan·Behnaz Majlesein·Yifan Huang·Johannes Herrnsdorf·Sujan Rajbhandari·Jonathan McKendry·Iman Tavakkolnia·Humeyra Caglayan·Henning Helmers·Graham Turnbull·Ifor D. W. Samuel·Martin Dawson·Robert Schober·Harald Haas
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Abstract

Optical wireless communication (OWC) is a promising technology anticipated to play a key role in the next-generation network of networks, especially as a complementary technology to traditional radio frequency communications, for enhancing networking capabilities beyond conventional terrestrial networks. OWC is already a mature technology with diverse usage scenarios, and can enable integrated applications via wireless access and backhaul networks, dynamic drone and satellite networks, underwater networks, inter- and intra-system interconnecting networks, and vehicular communication networks. Furthermore, novel and emerging technological opportunities such as photovoltaic cells, orbital angular momentum-based modulation, optical reconfigurable intelligent surfaces, organic light-emitting and photo diodes, and recent advances in ultraviolet communications can help enhance future OWC capabilities even further. Moreover, OWC networks can also support value-added services such as enhanced positioning and gesture recognition. Hence, OWC provides unique functionalities that can play a crucial role in building convergent and resilient future network of networks alongside radio frequency and optical fiber technologies.

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Aravindh Krishnamoorthy, Hossein Safi, Othman Younus, Hossein Kazemi, Isaac N. O. Osahon, Mingqing Liu, Yi Liu, Sina Babadi, Rizwana Ahmad, Asim Ihsan, Behnaz Majlesein, Yifan Huang, Johannes Herrnsdorf, Sujan Rajbhandari, Jonathan McKendry, Iman Tavakkolnia, Humeyra Caglayan, Henning Helmers, Graham Turnbull, Ifor D. W. Samuel, Martin Dawson, Robert Schober, Harald Haas. 2025-04-15. Optical Wireless Communications: Enabling the Next Generation Network of Networks. https://doi.org/10.1109/mvt.2025.3555366

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