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.
