  NEWFOCUS is an EU COST Action targeted at exploring radical solutions that
could influence the design of future wireless networks. The project aims to
address some of the challenges associated with optical wireless communication
(OWC) and to establish it as a complementary technology to the radio frequency
(RF)-based wireless systems in order to meet the demanding requirements of the
fifth generation (5G) and the future sixth generation (6G) backhaul and access
networks. Only 6G will be able to widely serve the exponential growth in
connected devices (i.e., more than 500 billion) in 2030, real-time holographic
communication, future virtual reality, etc. Space is emerging as the new
frontier in 5 and 6G and beyond communication networks, where it offers
high-speed wireless coverage to remote areas both in lands and sees. This
activity is supported by the recent development of low-altitude Earth orbit
satellite mega-constellations. The focus of this 2nd White Paper is on the use
of OWC as an enabling technology for medium- and long-range links for
deployment in (i) smart-cities and intelligent transportation systems; (ii)
first- and last-mile access and backhaul/fronthaul wireless networks; (iii)
hybrid free-space optics/RF adaptive wireless connections; (iv)
space-to-ground, inter-satellite, ground-to-air, and air-to-air communications;
and (v) underwater communications.
