COST Action CA19111: European Network on Future Generation Optical Wireless Communication Technologies

The design of future wireless communication networks that cope with the ever-growing mobile data traffic as well as support varied and sophisticated services and applications in vertical sectors with a low environmental impact is recognized as a major technical challenge that European engineers face today. The COST Action NEWFOCUS will propose truly radical solutions with the potential to impact the design of future wireless networks. Particularly, NEWFOCUS aims to establish optical wireless communications (OWC) as an efficient technology that can satisfy the demanding requirements of backhaul and access network levels in beyond 5G networks. This also includes the use of hybrid links that associate OWC with radiofrequency or wired/fiber-based technologies.

Towards this vision, NEWFOCUS will carry out a comprehensive research programme under two major pillars. The first pillar is on the development of OWC-based solutions capable of delivering ubiquitous, ultra-high-speed, low-power consumption, highly secure, and low-cost wireless access in diverse application scenarios. The developed solutions will in particular support Internet-of-Things (IoT) for smart environments with applications in vertical sectors. The second pillar concerns the development of flexible and efficient backhaul/fronthaul OWC links with low latency and compatible with access traffic growth.

In addition to scientific and technological advances, NEWFOCUS will serve as a global networking platform through capacity building of all relevant stakeholders including universities, research institutions, major industry players, small medium enterprises, governmental bodies and non-governmental organisations. Within this rich consortium, NEWFOCUS will train experts to accompany related European industries for the standardisation and commercialisation of the OWC technology.