Free-Space Optical Communications for Terrestrial, Aerial and Space Networks: Which Frequency Bands for Which Scenarios?

Free-Space Optical Communications for Terrestrial, Aerial and Space Networks: Which Frequency Bands for Which Scenarios?

Description: 

Free-space optical (FSO) communications are attracting increasing interest for terrestrial, aerial and space networks. However, the optimal technical solution depends strongly on the target scenario. A terrestrial FSO link across an urban area, a ground-to-HAP/UAV link, an optical feeder link to a satellite, and an inter-satellite link all face different constraints in terms of propagation distance, atmospheric loss, turbulence, cloud blockage, pointing accuracy, terminal size, optical power, eye safety, receiver sensitivity and operational availability. Therefore, the choice of spectral band is not straightforward and should be discussed in a scenario-driven manner.

This 3.5-hour workshop will focus on the practical question: which wavelength or frequency bands should be used for different FSO application scenarios? The discussion will cover near-infrared (NIR) bands such as 850 nm, 1064 nm and 1550 nm, which benefit from mature telecom and space optical communication technologies; visible and ultraviolet (UV) bands for short-range, underwater, non-line-of-sight or specialized links; mid-infrared (MIR) bands for potential operation in favorable atmospheric windows and challenging weather or turbulence conditions; and THz bands as a complementary option between RF and optical systems. Rather than seeking a single “best” band, the workshop aims to build a clear mapping between application scenario, spectral window, device maturity, propagation characteristics and deployment feasibility.

The workshop will include 12 invited talks of 10 minutes each (including Q&A), arranged in two thematic halves with a 30-minute panel discussion after each half and a 30-minute coffee break between the halves. The invited speakers will represent academia, industry and standardization/ecosystem stakeholders. Academic speakers will address atmospheric propagation, channel modelling, modulation formats and emerging device technologies. Industrial speakers will discuss terminal design, acquisition and tracking, component availability, reliability, cost and field deployment experience. Standardization speakers will cover interoperability, eye safety, availability metrics, regulatory aspects and integration with future 6G and non-terrestrial network architectures. 

The workshop will conclude with a panel discussion, addressing whether future FSO systems will mainly rely on mature near-infrared technologies, move toward MIR/LWIR and THz solutions in selected scenarios, or evolve into adaptive multi-band hybrid RF/THz/FSO architectures. The expected outcome is a concise technology roadmap connecting FSO scenarios with suitable spectral bands, modulation choices, atmospheric mitigation methods and deployment requirements.

Time: November 1, 2026 | 13:30-16:40

Venue: Conference Room 103B, 1F

Organizers:

Xiaodan Pang, Zhejiang University, China

Haifeng Yao, Beijing Institute of Technology, China

Yuzhe Lin, The Institute of Semiconductors (IOS), CAS, China

Agenda:

Part I: Mid-IR and THz devices and links. 

Presider: Yuzhe Lin, The Institute of Semiconductors (IOS), CAS

13:30-13:40 Huibin Zhou, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China

Title: Recent Advances in Mid-infrared Free Space Optical Communications

13:40-13:50 Zhidong Lyu, Zhejiang University, China

Title: Exploring mid-infrared for free-space optical communications

13:50-14:00 Junqi Liu, Ocean University of China, China

Title: Quantum Cascade Lasers for Mid-Infrared Free-Space Optical Communications

14:00-14:10 Baile Chen, ShanghaiTech University, China

Title: From AI Optical Interconnects to THz Wireless and MWIR Free-Space Communications

14:10-14:20 Hua Li, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, CAS

Title: Terahertz semiconductor laser frequency comb and its communication application

14:20-14:30 Ming Che, Kyushu University, Japan

Title: Photonics-Enabled Terahertz Antenna Arrays: Toward High-EIRP and Agile-Beam Wireless Communications

14:30-15:00 Panel Discussion I: Which scenarios benefit from mid-IR and THz?

15:00-15:30 Coffee Break

Part II: FSO, VLC and UV systems and scenarios. 

Presider: Haifeng Yao, Beijing Institute of Technology

15:30-15:40 Buzheng Wei, China Unicom, China

Title: Recent progress of FSOC standards

15:40-15:50 Zhenming Yu, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, China

Title: Satellite laser communication with integrated acquisition and transmission

15:50-16:00 Zhouyi Hu, Beijing Jiaotong University, China

Title: Towards Wireless Intra-Data Center Networks: Millimeter Waves or Free-Space Optics?

16:00-16:10 Zixian Wei, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China

Title: Bidirectional Multi-Format/Rate-Adjustable Integrated Laser System for Satellite Communication

16:10-16:20 Chao Shen, Fudan University, China

Title: Optical Wireless Communication in the UV and Visible Regime: Technology and Applications

16:20-16:50 Panel Discussion II: Choosing bands for terrestrial, aerial and space networks