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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Optical wireless communication (OWC) sends information through an unguided path using light rather than a radio carrier. The light may be visible, infrared or ultraviolet. OWC is an umbrella term for different systems—not one protocol—and includes visible-light communication (VLC), Li-Fi and free-space optical links.
How optical wireless communication works
An optical transmitter varies a light signal to encode information, and an optical receiver detects those changes and recovers the data. “Wireless” means the light travels through an unguided path rather than through optical fiber; the path may be direct or, depending on the system, involve reflected light.
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OWC describes the communication medium and broad family of techniques. It does not specify one wavelength, network design, range, data rate or compatibility standard. Those details depend on the particular system.
How OWC differs from VLC, Li-Fi and free-space optical communication
| Term | Meaning | How it relates to OWC |
|---|---|---|
| OWC | Wireless communication using optical carriers, including visible, infrared or ultraviolet light. | The broad category. |
| VLC | Communication using visible wavelengths. | A narrower branch of OWC. |
| Li-Fi | Light-based, bidirectional network communication. | A networking approach within the broader OWC category; it should not be assumed to use visible light in every implementation. |
| Free-space optical communication | Optical transmission through an unguided path, often for point-to-point links. | A type of OWC; unlike fiber communication, its light is not guided through a fiber. |
| Optical camera communication | A related approach that uses an optical source and a camera-based receiver. | An example associated with the wider OWC field. |
IEEE Technology Navigator places Li-Fi within OWC and lists infrared remote-control links, free-space optical links and VLC as examples of the broader category. That is why calling all OWC “visible-light Wi-Fi” is inaccurate: the category includes non-visible wavelengths and multiple types of link.
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What the standards specify
Standards cover particular systems and operating goals, not every technology that could be called OWC. The figures below describe the cited standards’ scopes; they are not guaranteed results for every device or OWC link.
| Standard or recommendation | Scope and stated figures | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| IEEE 802.11bb-2023 | Uplink and downlink in the 800–1000 nm band; PHY throughput from 10 Mb/s to 9.6 Gb/s, measured at the MAC data service access point. | Published 10 November 2023. It adds light communications to the IEEE 802.11 family and specifies interoperability among solid-state light sources with different modulation bandwidths. It is one amendment, not a definition of all OWC. |
| IEEE 802.15.13 | PHY/MAC for OWC in optically transparent media over wavelengths from 190 nm to 10,000 nm. Its task-group page describes rates up to 10 Gbit/s and distances in the range of 200 meters under unrestricted line of sight. | The distance and rate are a working-group description, not a measured consumer-product guarantee. The page also discusses point-to-point and point-to-multipoint topologies and mobility within or between coordinator coverage. |
| ITU-T G.9991 | Architecture, PHY and data-link layers for high-speed indoor optical wireless transceivers using visible light. | The ITU-T listing identifies G.9991 (2019), Amendment 2 (04/2021), as in force and says the amendment supports advanced inter-domain mobility through an external controller. |
IEEE lists IEEE 802.11-2024 as an active revision and says amendments 1–7, published between 2021 and 2024, are incorporated; IEEE 802.11bb-2023 is Amendment 6. A standard’s existence does not establish that all consumer devices interoperate, that a product is commercially available, or that it has regulatory approval in a particular country.
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What to consider when comparing OWC systems
There is no single best OWC design for every use. Compare the specific system’s operating conditions and standard rather than treating its maximum stated rate as a general property of optical communication.
- Wavelength: Check whether the system uses visible, infrared or ultraviolet light. A wavelength band can affect which sources and receivers are suitable.
- Optical path and obstruction: Determine whether the link requires a direct line of sight or can use reflected light. A blocked path can matter, particularly for line-of-sight systems.
- Mobility and coverage: Establish whether the system is fixed or supports portable or moving endpoints, and how it handles coverage transitions. Mobility support is specific to the design; for example, ITU-T G.9991 Amendment 2 lists advanced inter-domain mobility through an external controller.
- Throughput and measurement point: Read the standard and measurement context. IEEE 802.11bb’s stated PHY range is measured at the MAC data service access point, while IEEE 802.15.13’s task-group page gives an up-to rate and line-of-sight distance description.
- Interoperability: Look for an implementation of the same standard and its relevant requirements. Sharing the OWC label alone does not establish compatibility.
- Ambient-light conditions: Check how a system handles ambient-light noise or interference in its intended environment; OWC should not be assumed immune to interference.
In short: OWC is a family, not one technology
Optical wireless communication means transmitting data through an unguided optical path. VLC, Li-Fi and free-space optical links are related but distinct terms, and standards such as IEEE 802.11bb, IEEE 802.15.13 and ITU-T G.9991 specify different systems within the field. To evaluate a particular link, use its wavelength, path requirements, mobility, interoperability and standard-specific performance description.
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