The exponential growth in the use of bandwidth-hungry internet services requires new advances in optical data transmission technologies to achieve ultrahigh throughputs and minimal latencies. 5G systems – a combination of innovative radio and core network technologies – will integrate optical communications.

Using an optical core to route 5G data raises significant questions about how wireless and optical technologies can coexist to provide smooth, end-to-end communication pathways.

Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the EWOC project plans to develop a new converged optical wireless network solution, based on flexible and virtualised infrastructure, for the complete optimisation of resources for beyond 5G requirements.

EWOC will target high-capacity, low-latency communications (40-90 GHz), providing the basis for a 50-fold improvement in spectral efficiency.