Relaying in optical wireless communication

Optical wireless communication (OWC) refers to the transmission of data using light propagating through the atmosphere over ranges of few metres to few kilometres (terrestrial) to thousands of kilometres (space/satellite). This technology has recently attracted a renewed interest although its roots can be traced back to Alexander Graham Bell’s photophone, which transmitted human conversation carried by a beam of light over a distance of about 200 m [1]. OWC technology provides an inherently secure, license-free, and high capacity alternative to radio frequency (RF) wireless communication and a cost-effective and easy-to-install alternative to fibre optics. These advantages make this technology an attractive solution for intermediate, last mile, or access connectivity in the future congested networks by bridging the gap between the end user and the fibre-optic infrastructure already in place.