The Role of Optical Wireless Communication Technologies in 5G/6G and IoT Solutions: Prospects, Directions, and Challenges

Abstract

The upcoming fifth- and sixth-generation (5G and 6G, respectively) communication systems are expected to deal with enormous advances compared to the existing fourth-generation communication system. The few important and common issues related to the service quality of 5G and 6G communication systems are high capacity, massive connectivity, low latency, high security, low-energy consumption, high quality of experience, and reliable connectivity. Of course, 6G communication will provide several-fold improved performances compared to the 5G communication regarding these issues. The Internet of Things (IoT) based on the tactile internet will also be an essential part of 5G-and-beyond (5GB) (e.g., 5G and 6G) communication systems. Accordingly, 5GB wireless networks will face numerous challenges in supporting the extensive verities of heterogeneous traffic and in satisfying the mentioned service-quality-related parameters. Optical wireless communication (OWC), along with many other wireless technologies, is a promising candidate for serving the demands of 5GB communication systems. This review paper clearly presents how OWC technologies, such as visible light communication, light fidelity, optical camera communication, and free space optics communication, will be an effective solution for successful deployment of 5G/6G and IoT systems.

Interdisciplinarily Exploring the Most Potential IoT Technology Determinants in the Omnichannel E-Commerce Purchasing Decision-Making Processes

“…In order to detect this such profitable niche and develop a trend in current omnichannels e-commercial market [2], "how to delve into the most potential IoT technology determinants in the omnichannels e-commerce purchasing decision-making processes" has been the critical research mainstream [3] for creating the most effective profits and commercial niche [4] in this contemporary hyper-dynamic and hyper-competitive omnichannels e-commerce era. After making a series of comprehensive surveys [5][6][7][8][9] in the omnichannels e-commerce market, there is no one to be able to simultaneously analyze the interplays and dependences between IoT technology and the purchasing-decision behaviors in contemporary omnichannels e-commerce relative research fields. The reason is the majority of purchasing-decision researches in omnichannels e-commerce research field have only focused on increasing the effectiveness of purchasing trade processes or the wonderful expressions of products or services without the comprehensive considerations of the technological in-depth influences in consumer's purchasing-decision and the extensive correlations among individual customers, consumer groups and society as a whole.…”

Underwater Optical Wireless Communications: Overview

“…UWOC provides many technical benefits such as e.g., high rates of data transmission, secure links, but also economical ones, such as low installation and operational costs. Moreover, since the optical band is not included in the telecommunications regulations, it does not require payment of licensing fees and tariffs [34][35][36][37][38][39][40].…”

Noise Resilient Outdoor Traffic Light Visible Light Communications System Based on Logarithmic Transimpedance Circuit: Experimental Demonstration of a 50 m Reliable Link in Direct Sun Exposure

“…In these circumstances, it is assumed that the indoor lighting system is used in VLC, and so perturbations from artificial lighting are not implicated. So, the high SNR indoor conditions enable the usage of the VLC technology in high data rate applications, coined today as Li-Fi technology [26,27], high precision indoor location [28][29][30], Internet of Things (IoT) services [31], location based informational systems [32], smartphone applications [33], and future 5G/6G technologies [26,34]. On the other hand, outdoor applications are affected by numerous sources of artificial light.…”