Optical Wireless Communication for 6G Communication Networks

Dear Colleagues,

Nowadays, the advent of the Internet of Things (IoT) and machine-type communication networks has imposed further requirements for higher wireless network capacity. These challenges are critical drivers pushing fifth-generation (5G) and even sixth generation (6G) wireless communication networks. Thus, optical wireless communication (OWC) is considered to be a promising technology for improving data rate and system capacity in 5G/6G networks. The VLC spectrum ranges from 430 THz to 790 THz, which provides a rich yet unused spectrum bandwidth. Meanwhile, visible light can hardly penetrate through walls and other obstacles. Thus, interference among light-emitting diode (LED) communication cells can be greatly reduced while enhancing the degree of spatial reuse and the security of sensitive data. Benefiting from these advantages, OWC systems can find a wide range of applications in homes and offices. Furthermore, LEDs have longer life expectancies and lower power consumption levels compared with traditional incandescent or fluorescent lights. Due to the great progress in solid-state technologies, highly energy-efficient LEDs can be used for illumination, mobile communication, localization, etc.

This Special Issue will bring together researchers from academia and industry to explore studies on the development, implementation, and application of optical wireless communication systems in 5G/6G networks. The topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Channel simulation, measurement, and modeling in optical bands;
• LED-IoT communications in OWC networks;
• Higher-data-rate OWC for 5G/6G networks;
• New hardware and software implementation for visible light communication (VLC) (e.g., LED chips design);
• Intelligent reflecting surface (IRS)/reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS)-aided OWC;
• Statistical modeling and channel estimation for OWC systems;
• Machine learning and neural networks for OWC systems;
• New multiple access technologies in OWC networks (e.g., non-orthogonal multiple access);
• New models, concepts, and architectures supporting OWC networks;
• Software-defined networking and network function virtualization (SDN/NFV) in OWC networks;
• VLC for indoor localization/positioning and sensing in 5G/6G networks;
• Scalable distributed learning for VLC systems (e.g., federated learning);
• Multiuser VLC networking, advance modulation techniques ;
• Security and privacy issues in VLC;
• Underwater VLC;
• VLC for internet of vehicles (e.g., unmanned aerial vehicle, car);
• AI-based blockchain for VLC;
• AI-based digital twins for VLC;
• OWC assisted or related advanced technology or system/networks design;
• Joint evaluation index for lighting and communication of optical devices.

Dr. Xiaodong Liu
Dr. Lisu Yu
Prof. Dr. Xun Zhang
Guest Editors

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• optical wireless communication (OWC)
• sixth-generation (6G) communication networks
• high energy efficiency
• high date rate
• high security
• reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS)
• multiple access