Progress in optical wireless communication (OWC) has unleashed the potential to transmit data in an ultra-fast manner without incurring large investments and bulk infrastructure. OWC includes wireless data transmissions in three optical sub-bands; ultraviolet, visible, and infrared. This paper discusses installing infrared OWC, known as free space optics (FSO), systems on top of installed radio frequency (RF) networks for outdoor applications to benefit from the reliability of RF links and the unlicensed broad optical spectrum, and the large data rates carried by laser beams propagating in free space. We equally review commercially available solutions and the hardware requirements for RF and FSO technology co-existence. The potential of hybrid RF/FSO for space communication is further discussed. Finally, open problems and future research directions are presented.

中文翻译：

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在现有的射频基础设施中改造FSO系统：一种非零和游戏技术

光学无线通信（OWC）的进步释放了以超快速方式传输数据的潜力，而无需花费大量投资和庞大的基础架构。OWC包括三个光学子带中的无线数据传输；紫外线，可见光和红外线。本文讨论了安装红外OWC（称为自由空间光学（FSO）），在已安装的射频（RF）网络之上的户外应用系统，以受益于RF链路的可靠性和未经许可的宽光谱以及大数据速率由在自由空间中传播的激光束携带。我们同样审查了商用解决方案以及RF和FSO技术共存的硬件要求。进一步讨论了混合RF / FSO在空间通信中的潜力。最后，