Traditional IoT growth has relied on incremental improvements in the spectral efficiency of wireless communication systems, primarily RF systems. However, with the rise of 6G and the "Digital Twin" concept, the exponential increase in data volume generated by billions of sensors is likely to overwhelm current infrastructure, especially for short-range communication. Visible Light Communication (VLC) has emerged as a key candidate for 6G, offering massive bandwidth, inherent privacy, security, and low interference. In addition, Semantic Communication has redefined information theory by focusing on goal-oriented transmission. Therefore, by combining the VLC for the "heavy lifting" of data and Semantics to reduce the data volume, we can solve the fundamental power-bandwidth-latency trilemma in modern wireless communication systems to a great extent. We welcome researchers to explore hybrid RF/VLC architectures in which the network intelligently switches between spectrums based on environmental context and where semantic encoders optimize resource allocation. By converging the strengths of optical wireless and semantic-aware protocols, we aim to build a roadmap for a resilient, low-latency, and energy-autonomous sensing ecosystem.
The primary goal of this topic is to establish a unified framework for both power and energy-efficient data systems. We aim to move beyond the data-integrity objective towards the meaning of information as a single, joint optimization problem. Through this collection, we intend to:
• Demonstrate the scalability of Hybrid RF/VLC networks in dense sensor environments.
• Validate the energy-saving potential of Semantic-Aware protocols compared to traditional raw-data transmission.
• Bridge the gap between Information Theory (Semantics) and Physical Layer Engineering (RF/VLC) to create actionable standards for Green IoT.
• Analyze the capacity improvement of this hybrid system for the dense IoT
We welcome original research, comprehensive reviews, and hardware-in-the-loop demonstrations. The scope includes, but is not limited to:
- Physical Layer: Energy-efficient VLC modulation, Hybrid RF/VLC handover, and Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC).
- Network/Intelligence Layer: Task-oriented Joint Source-Channel Coding (JSCC), Semantic-MAC protocols, and ML for on-device semantic extraction.
- Security: Physical Layer Security (PLS) in VLC/RF Cryptography for resource-constrained nodes.
Authors should emphasize both the quantitative and qualitative gains, mainly in energy efficiency or spectral utilization. Submissions must provide clear methodology, whether through rigorous mathematical proofs, high-fidelity simulations, and/or experimental testbeds.
Article types and fees
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
Brief Research Report
Data Report
Editorial
FAIR² Data
FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
Hypothesis and Theory
Methods
Mini Review
Original Research
Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.
Article types
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
