Optical wireless networking connectivity can typically be achieved using radio frequency (RF) or optical wireless approaches at the physical level. The RF spectrum is congested, and the provision of broadband services in new bands is increasingly more difficult. Optical wireless networking offers a vast unregulated bandwidth that can be exploited by mobile terminals within an indoor environment to set up high-speed multimedia services. Optical signal transmission and detection offers immunity from fading and security at the physical level where the optical signal is typically contained within the indoor communication environment. The same communication equipment and wavelengths can be reused in other parts of a building, thus offering wavelength diversity. The optical medium is, however, far from ideal. Diffuse optical wireless networking systems offer user mobility and are robust in the presence of shadowing, but they can be significantly impaired by multipath propagation, which results in pulse dispersion and intersymbol interference. Background radiation from natural and artificial lighting contains significant energy in the near-infrared band typically used in optical wireless networking systems [1].

Moreover, particular attention has to be paid to eye safety, and the maximum transmitter power allowed is thus limited. Despite these limitations, optical wireless networking systems have been implemented where bit rates of up to 155 Mbps have been demonstrated, and current research aims to increase the bit rate and reduce the impact of the impairments. Research at the network and protocol levels also continues where resource sharing, medium sharing, and quality of service (QoS) are all issues of interest [1]. This chapter will cover the following developing areas in optical networking:

• Optical wireless networking high-speed integrated transceivers
• Wavelength-switching subsystems
• Optical storage area networks (SANs)
• Optical contacting
• Optical automotive systems
• Optical computing

In addition to the above-mentioned developing areas, this chapter covers optical wireless systems and networking technologies, and topologies associated with optical wireless systems. The design of high-speed integrated transceivers for optical wireless, and a pyramidal fly-eye diversity receiver is also presented and analyzed. A discussion of the treatment of receiver diversity continues, in which angle diversity and an adaptive rate scheme are explored. Multiple subcarrier modulation is also considered. It is hoped that the developing optical networking technologies presented in this chapter will give an indication of the current status of optical wireless systems and research efforts underway [1].