TITAN researchers have successfully demonstrated that beams of light could replace fibre cables and microwave links in powering the next generation of 5G networks. In real-world tests, the Optical Wireless…
TITAN researchers have successfully demonstrated that beams of light could replace fibre cables and microwave links in powering the next generation of 5G networks. In real-world tests, the Optical Wireless Communication (OWC) system carried data at speeds of up to 3 gigabits per second while using less than one-third of the power of conventional microwave systems.
The breakthrough, driven by researchers from the University of Cambridge and the Satellite Applications Catapult, comes as mobile networks face surging demand for high-capacity, low-latency connections.
“An OWC system uses free space (air) just like radio waves but provides the speed of optical fibre cables. It also uses the technology already existing in fibre networks, lighting, such as lasers and photodetectors,” said Professor Iman Tavakkolnia from the University of Cambridge.
Image of the temporary indoor deployment
Unlike fibre, which requires costly and time-consuming installation, or microwave links that consume more energy, OWC offers a flexible and energy-efficient alternative. It operates on a free spectrum and can be deployed rapidly in difficult environments.
“The great thing about OWC is that it’s flexible and doesn’t need cables. That means we don’t have to dig up roads. It saves time and money and helps avoid traffic jams—so fewer headaches for everyone,” Dr Du Yang, Senior Telecommunications Systems Engineer at Satellite Applications Catapult said.
Live trials showed OWC could act as both the “fronthaul” and “backhaul” of a 5G network. The backhaul link delivered about 1 gigabit per second with error-free performance, even under imperfect conditions, and streamed real-time video across the internet without disruption. Meanwhile, the fronthaul link achieved stable operation at around 3 gigabits per second, enough to handle demanding 5G services.
The results have been deemed significant enough and was presented at the European Conference on Optical Communication, one of the field’s leading scientific gatherings, taking place in Copenhagen between 28 September and 2 October 2025.
The technology is now set to be tested outside the lab. At the Future Networks Development Centre in Westcott, UK, where a private 5G network lost one of its microwave links after a new building blocked the signal, the team plans to use OWC instead of installing costly fibre infrastructure.
Illustration of outdoor deployment
“Unlike radio communications, which try to use advanced and complex reconfigurable intelligent surfaces to overcome some of the existing challenges, such as routing the signal around a blockage, OWC systems can simply use mirrors—but it needs quite a detailed calculation and precise installation,” Prof. Tavakkolnia said.
By carefully positioning a mirror to bend the light beam around the obstruction, they aim to restore connectivity quickly and reliably, demonstrating the technology’s adaptability in real-world settings.
The research highlights the potential of OWC to make future mobile networks not only faster and more resilient, but also greener. However, it has its limitations. “OWC can be sensitive to bad weather, like heavy rain or fog. So, to really make the most of it, we need to figure out how to make it more stable and reliable,” Dr Yang said.
As nations race to expand their digital infrastructure, solutions that reduce power consumption and accelerate deployment could play a crucial role in ensuring that 5G, and eventually 6G, reaches a broader audience without leaving behind hard-to-reach communities. Optical Wireless Communication systems are poised to bridge this gap and drive sustainable economic growth in the UK.
TITAN is part of the Federated Telecoms Hubs (FTH) alongside CHEDDAR, HASC, and JOINER. Together, we conduct world-leading R&D and create a new knowledge-sharing framework, roadmap technology, develop skills, and engage with standards while instilling a commercialisation-focused mindset across academia.
If you have any questions about the research discussed in this article, please contact titan-enquiries@eng.cam.ac.uk.
