Enabling VLC and WiFi network technologies and architectures toward 5G

This chapter focuses on visible light communication (VLC) technologies within the context of 5G. Basically, a VLC system employs LED lamps as access points and a photodetector or an image sensor based receiver based on an intensity modulation and direct detection scheme. There are a number of feasible applications of optical wireless schemes in communication systems. The adopted technique depends mainly on the specified application. Underwater wireless communications entail data transmission in unguided water environments by means of wireless carriers for military or diver-to-diver communications. Another potential application is in the aviation industries. There have been notable concerns about the usage of WiFi network in a lot of healthcare environments such as operation rooms. Vehicular-to-everything communication is an important system that has the ability to enable connected, safe, reliable, and efficient automated transportation services with high potential of averting automotive traffic accidents.