New Trends in Visible Light Communication
A special issue of Electronics (ISSN 2079-9292). This special issue belongs to the section "Optoelectronics".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 January 2026 | Viewed by 2
Special Issue Editor
Interests: visible light communication; integrated communications and sensing; wireless communications; video processing and communication
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Visible Light Communication (VLC) has emerged as a revolutionary paradigm in wireless communications, offering a unique blend of high-speed data transmission, license-free spectrum, and seamless integration with existing lighting infrastructure. The ubiquity of LED-based lighting—spanning from indoor illumination to automotive headlights and consumer electronics—has transformed ordinary light sources into potential data transmitters, enabling a wide range of applications from high-speed internet access to precise indoor positioning. Recent advancements in solid-state lighting, photodetectors, and camera technologies have further expanded the horizons of VLC, giving rise to specialized domains such as Optical Camera Communication (OCC) and Visible Light Positioning (VLP). Meanwhile, the standardization of VLC through initiatives like IEEE 802.15.7, IEEE 802.15.13, and ITU-T G.9991 underscores its growing relevance in both academic and industrial spheres.
Beyond conventional applications, VLC is making strides in emerging fields such as underwater communications, where traditional RF systems face severe limitations. Underwater VLC (UVLC) has demonstrated remarkable potential for high-data-rate links in subaquatic environments, enabling applications in marine exploration, underwater robotics, and defense systems. Similarly, the integration of VLC with emerging technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) networks, and smart city infrastructures is opening up new avenues for research and deployment. Machine learning and artificial intelligence are also playing a pivotal role in optimizing VLC systems, from adaptive modulation schemes to intelligent resource allocation and interference mitigation.
This Special Issue aims to publish the latest breakthroughs and future directions in VLC research, covering both theoretical foundations and practical implementations. We invite the submission of original contributions that explore innovative methodologies, address current challenges, and propose novel applications in this rapidly evolving field. Topics of interest for this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Advanced modulation and coding techniques for VLC;
- MIMO VLC and diversity systems;
- Hybrid RF-VLC networks;
- Optical camera communication (OCC);
- Visible light positioning (VLP);
- Underwater VLC (UVLC);
- Energy-efficient and energy-harvesting VLC;
- Machine learning for VLC;
- Security and privacy in VLC;
- Emerging applications of VLC in IoT, smart cities, healthcare, vehicular networks, and industrial automation.
Prof. Dr. Shaoshuai Gao
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- visible light communication (VLC)
- hybrid RF-VLC networks
- optical camera communication (OCC)
- visible light positioning (VLP)
- underwater VLC (UVLC)
- MIMO-VLC systems
- AI-optimized VLC
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