High data-rate infra-red optical wireless communications: Implementation challenges

Achieving high data-rates in optical wireless involves theoretical limits and practical constraints. In this paper we discuss these, with reference to two system examples. A 1.25 Gigabit/s demonstrator that has been fabricated as part of the European Community Framework 7 project OMEGA is described, and a 280Mbit/s demonstrator that is currently under development as part of the same project. In each case the compromises required, and implementation issues are discussed.