Title: Laser-based Terabit Optical Wireless Networking

Time: 10:30am on 10th May 2023    Location: 611, EEE building

Abstract: Security, energy efficiency, data density and aggregate data rates of up to 1 Tbps are some of the key performance indicators (KPIs) of 6G. We show that the optical spectrum can deliver on all these KPIs. We will discuss existing challenges around optical-to-electrical (OE) conversion efficiencies, conservation of étendue and the ability to spatially control signal radiation tightly and at low energy cost. To this end, OWC can leverage decades of developments in optical fiber communications. We will summarize recent advancements in OWC with respect to peak data rates, data density, security and energy efficiency and in the context of wireless networks that will support user mobility and can deal with non-line-of sight (NLOS) situations. Moreover, we provide a status of IEEE 802.11bb standardization and discuss existing challenges and the road ahead.

Short bio: Professor Harald Haas received his PhD degree from The University of Edinburgh in 2001. He is a Distinguished Professor of Mobile Communications at the University of Strathclyde/Glasgow, Visiting Professor at the University of Edinburgh and the Director of the LiFi Research and Development Centre (LRDC). Prof Haas founded pureLiFi Ltd. and currently holds the position of Chief Scientific Officer (CSO). His most recent research interests are in combining physics and communication theory towards designing secure, high-speed and net-zero wireless multi-user access networks including distributed x-haul networks using the optical spectrum. He has co-authored more than 650 conference and journal papers with more than 50,000 citations and holds more than 45 patents. He has been listed as highly cited researcher by Clarivate/Web of Science since 2017. Prof. Haas has delivered two TED talks and one TEDx talk which have been watched online more than 5.5 million times. In 2016, he was the recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award from the International Solid State Lighting Alliance. Prof Haas was awarded a Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award in 2017. In 2019 he received the IEEE Vehicular Society James Evans Avant Garde Award and the Enginuity The Connect Places Innovation Award in 2021. In 2022 he was the recipient of a Humboldt Research Award for his research achievements to date. He is a Fellow of the IEEE, a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng), a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) and a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).