Visible light communication for 5G and beyond

Abstract

In this chapter, visible light communication (VLC) is introduced as a promising candidate to complement radio access technologies in fifth generation (5G) and beyond wireless networks. Starting with the brief history of VLC and standardization activities, it provides an overview of VLC system design, which includes the transmitter and receiver design, channel modeling, and medium access control (MAC). Besides, the integration of VLC with other communication technologies such as infrared (IR), power line communication (PLC), and radio frequency (RF) is also discussed to show how these technologies can work together and complement each other. Furthermore, the integration of VLC in 5G networks is also discussed from the implementation perspective. Finally, this chapter is concluded with the applications and future directions of VLC in 5G and beyond.