Outdoor Optical Wireless Communication: potentials, standardization and challenges for Smart Cities

With the growth in number and diversity of devices using RF (Radio Frequency) technologies, e.g. in the frame of IoT (Internet of Things), the available RF spectrum is getting overcrowded with these newcomers. As it is a limited and regulated resource, alternative solutions need to be found to avoid a possible shortage of wireless frequencies. Among the new potential technologies, Optical Wireless Communication (OWC), the family of communication techniques that uses visible, infrared or UV spectra to transmit data, is gaining popularity. Applications of OWC technologies are, for now, related to indoor communications. Nevertheless, outdoor OWC applications are also promising, particularly in the context of smart cities with applications such as outdoor urban Li-Fi (Light Fidelity) or IoT optical interconnections with urban furniture. The aim of this paper is to review the current status of outdoor OWC systems and their standardization, as well as identify their potential and the challenges they face with regard to the deployment of Smart Cities.