IEEE 802 LAN MAN Standards Committee recently finalized its work on two standards for light communications (LC). IEEE 802.15.13-2023 Standard for Multi-Gigabit per Second Optical Wireless Communications (OWC), with Ranges up to 200 meters, for both stationary and mobile devices (IEEE 802.15.13 ) introduced a new MAC and two PHY layers enabling high reliability, low latency, and low power transmission for industrial wireless applications, and IEEE P802.11bb Standard for Information Technology–Telecommunications and Information Exchange Between Systems Local and Metropolitan Area Networks–Specific Requirements – Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications Amendment 7: Light Communications (IEEE 802.11bb) defines how to reuse the 802.11 MAC and OFDM-based PHYs over optical links, aiming at large-volume applications e.g., in enterprise and home scenarios.
