Evolution of Short-Range Optical Wireless Communications

Abstract

The optical wireless communication (OWC) technology explores the broad unregulated optical spectrum to provide high-speed wireless communications, and the visible, ultraviolet and near-infrared wavelength ranges all have been investigated. Compared with the conventional radio frequency (RF) band, the spectrum in OWC systems is much less congested and the interference is much lower. The OWC technology also provides enhanced physical layer security due to the natural confinement of optical beams that makes it difficult to intercept the transmitted signal. Hence, the OWC technology has been widely studied and considered as a promising candidate in future beyond-5G communications. The OWC techno..