High speed millimeter-wave and visible light communication with off-the-shelf components

The ever increasing demand for higher data rates and seamless wireless connectivity have forced both academic and industrial strategists of wireless communications to consider exploring higher frequency bands other than the heavily utilised sub-6 GHz radio spectrum. The millimetre, infrared, and visible light spectra of electromagnetic waves are three of the most favourable choices. In this paper, we examine two wireless communication testbed systems operating in the millimetre-wave (mmWave) and visible spectra. Both systems are based on commercially available off-the-shelf components. Different aspects, e.g., modulation, link distance and partial link blockage, are studied. We experimentally show that both systems are capable of providing giga-bit-per-second data rates, and infer that a hybrid system can be the solution that mitigates drawbacks of each individual technology.