Ultraviolet-Based Indoor Wireless Communications: Potentials, Scenarios, and Trends

Radio frequency (RF) technology is widely adopted in indoor wireless communications due to its attractive benefits such as low cost and easy deployment. However, this technology also faces certain challenges such as spectrum scarcity and security concerns. In this article, ultraviolet (UV) communication is introduced to tackle these issues thanks to its distinctive benefits, for example, huge bandwidth without licensing, scattering and reflection propagations, communication security, and sterilization and disinfection. Initially, a comprehensive comparison among UV, RF, and other alternative approaches is summarized. Then, the UV indoor communication system with a detailed transceiver design is presented. Following that, UV representative scenarios for indoor communications and related performance indicators are investigated. In the end, future potential applications of UV technology for indoor scenarios are explored, and the challenges that deserve further research are also discussed.