The UK’s wireless spectrum is running out, and crowded indoor spaces like stadiums, offices, and train stations are the worst hit. This project tackles a looming infrastructure bottleneck. Demand for wireless data is growing exponentially, but the radio frequencies we currently use are finite and increasingly congested. Meanwhile, new technologies—such as optical wireless, higher-frequency radio systems, and intelligent surfaces—are emerging, but they all need fibre-optic backhaul to carry data to and from the network. New fibre types, including hollow-core and longer-wavelength glass fibres, are opening up previously unused wavelength regions. The research hub brings together eight partners to figure out how to combine all these wired and wireless tools—what they call “all-spectrum connectivity”—into a single, optimised system. If successful, this work could quietly transform the infrastructure that keeps modern life running. Instead of adding more radio masts, future networks would intelligently blend fibre, radio, and optical links to handle demand seamlessly. The result would be faster, more reliable connectivity in crowded indoor spaces, without the need for costly new spectrum licences. The hub is working directly with industry and government to ensure the models and interfaces they develop can be deployed in real networks.
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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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