The wireless spectrum is running out, and the UK is bringing together eight research groups to figure out how to combine every available wired and optical technology into a single, seamless communications system. This matters because demand for wireless data is growing exponentially, especially in crowded indoor spaces like stadiums, offices, and hospitals. Existing radio frequencies are becoming too congested to keep up. Meanwhile, new technologies—such as optical wireless, higher-frequency radio systems, intelligent surfaces, and advanced fibres like hollow-core cables—are maturing, but no one has yet worked out how to combine them efficiently. The Hub will create comparative models to determine the optimal mix of wired and wireless spectrum, develop methods to jointly manage them, and design a universal interface between the two domains. If successful, this could transform how people and devices connect in dense environments without requiring a complete overhaul of existing infrastructure. It would allow networks to automatically switch between radio, optical, and fibre links depending on demand, keeping connections fast and reliable where they currently fail. The work is applied and industry-facing, with demonstrations planned on existing testbeds and partnerships with government and business to ensure the results reach real-world deployment.
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The demand for wireless communications continues to grow exponentially, creating a severe shortage of wireless spectrum, and connectivity challenges, especially in indoor densely occupied environments. At the same time, optical wireless and new radio frequency approaches such as higher frequency systems and intelligent surfaces are maturing, creating new opportunities for wireless communications. All these systems require backhaul, provided by fibres, and here new fibre innovations, such as hollow core and new longer wavelength glass core are opening up new wavelength regions. The Hub brings together eight core partners with world-leading expertise in wireless and fibre communications to investigate how to use these emerging capabilities to provide all-spectrum connectivity. We will develop comparative models that allow the optimal combination of wired and wireless spectrum to be determined; develop methods to jointly optimise their use, and investigate approaches to create a universal interface between the wired and wireless domains. Partners will jointly undertake demonstrations using existing testbeds as well as systems modelling and a range of other activities. The work of the Hub will be in partnership with industry, government and the wider academic community with significant resources to support such partnerships reserved, and we will engage widely to ensure we maximise the impact of the work we undertake.
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