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 J.D. McKendry; Iman Tavakkolnia; Humeyra Caglayan; Henning Helmers; Graham Turnbull; Ifor D.W. Samuel; Martin D. Dawson; Robert Schober; Harald Haas

doi:10.1109/MVT.2025.3555366

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 J.D. McKendry
, Iman Tavakkolnia
, Humeyra Caglayan
, Henning Helmers
, Graham Turnbull
, Ifor D.W. Samuel

Martin D. Dawson, Robert Schober, Harald Haas

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Optical wireless communication (OWC) is a promising technology anticipated to play a key role in the next-generation network of networks (NoNs), especially as a complementary technology to traditional radio-frequency (RF) 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 intrasystem 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 to 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 NoNs alongside RF and optical fiber technologies.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	20-39
Number of pages	20
Journal	IEEE Vehicular Technology Magazine
Volume	20
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/MVT.2025.3555366
State	Published - 2025
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 IEEE.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Automotive Engineering

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1109/MVT.2025.3555366

Cite this

Krishnamoorthy, A., Safi, H., Younus, O., Kazemi, H., Osahon, I. N. O., Liu, M., Liu, Y., Babadi, S., Ahmad, R., Ihsan, A., Majlesein, B., Huang, Y., Herrnsdorf, J., Rajbhandari, S., McKendry, J. J. D., Tavakkolnia, I., Caglayan, H., Helmers, H., Turnbull, G., ... Haas, H. (2025). Optical Wireless Communications: Enabling the Next-Generation Network of Networks. IEEE Vehicular Technology Magazine, 20(2), 20-39. https://doi.org/10.1109/MVT.2025.3555366

@article{2a004406e2374c61a305c4008ff8ee74,

title = "Optical Wireless Communications: Enabling the Next-Generation Network of Networks",

abstract = "Optical wireless communication (OWC) is a promising technology anticipated to play a key role in the next-generation network of networks (NoNs), especially as a complementary technology to traditional radio-frequency (RF) 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 intrasystem 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 to 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 NoNs alongside RF and optical fiber technologies.",

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

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 IEEE.",

year = "2025",

doi = "10.1109/MVT.2025.3555366",

language = "English",

volume = "20",

pages = "20--39",

journal = "IEEE Vehicular Technology Magazine",

issn = "1556-6072",

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}

Krishnamoorthy, A, Safi, H, Younus, O, Kazemi, H, Osahon, INO, Liu, M, Liu, Y, Babadi, S, Ahmad, R, Ihsan, A, Majlesein, B, Huang, Y, Herrnsdorf, J, Rajbhandari, S, McKendry, JJD, Tavakkolnia, I, Caglayan, H, Helmers, H, Turnbull, G, Samuel, IDW, Dawson, MD, Schober, R & Haas, H 2025, 'Optical Wireless Communications: Enabling the Next-Generation Network of Networks', IEEE Vehicular Technology Magazine, vol. 20, no. 2, pp. 20-39. https://doi.org/10.1109/MVT.2025.3555366

TY - JOUR

T1 - Optical Wireless Communications

T2 - Enabling the Next-Generation Network of Networks

AU - Krishnamoorthy, Aravindh

AU - Safi, Hossein

AU - Younus, Othman

AU - Kazemi, Hossein

AU - Osahon, Isaac N.O.

AU - Liu, Mingqing

AU - Liu, Yi

AU - Babadi, Sina

AU - Ahmad, Rizwana

AU - Ihsan, Asim

AU - Majlesein, Behnaz

AU - Huang, Yifan

AU - Herrnsdorf, Johannes

AU - Rajbhandari, Sujan

AU - McKendry, Jonathan J.D.

AU - Tavakkolnia, Iman

AU - Caglayan, Humeyra

AU - Helmers, Henning

AU - Turnbull, Graham

AU - Samuel, Ifor D.W.

AU - Dawson, Martin D.

AU - Schober, Robert

AU - Haas, Harald

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - Optical wireless communication (OWC) is a promising technology anticipated to play a key role in the next-generation network of networks (NoNs), especially as a complementary technology to traditional radio-frequency (RF) 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 intrasystem 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 to 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 NoNs alongside RF and optical fiber technologies.

AB - Optical wireless communication (OWC) is a promising technology anticipated to play a key role in the next-generation network of networks (NoNs), especially as a complementary technology to traditional radio-frequency (RF) 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 intrasystem 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 to 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 NoNs alongside RF and optical fiber technologies.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105003399785

U2 - 10.1109/MVT.2025.3555366

DO - 10.1109/MVT.2025.3555366

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105003399785

SN - 1556-6072

VL - 20

SP - 20

EP - 39

JO - IEEE Vehicular Technology Magazine

JF - IEEE Vehicular Technology Magazine

IS - 2

ER -

Optical Wireless Communications: Enabling the Next-Generation Network of Networks

Abstract

Bibliographical note

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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