Millimeter-wave (mmWave) technology has been extensively studied for indoor short-range communications. In such fixed network applications, the emerging FTTR architecture allows mmWave technology to be well cascaded with in-room optical network terminals, supporting high-speed communication at rates over tens of Gbit/s. In this Fiber-to-the-Room (FTTR)-mmWave system, the severe signal attenuation over distance and high penetration loss through room walls are no longer bottlenecks for practical mmWave deployment. Instead, these properties create high spatial isolation, which prevents mutual interference between data streams and ensures information security. This paper surveys the promising integration of FTTR and mmWave access for next-generation indoor high-speed communications, with a particular focus on the Ultra-Converged Access Network (U-CAN) architecture. It is structured in two main parts: it first traces this new FTTR-mmWave architecture from the perspective of Wi-Fi and mmWave communication evolution, and then focuses specifically on the development of key mmWave chipsets for FTTR-mmWave Wi-Fi applications. This work aims to provide a comprehensive reference for researchers working toward immersive, untethered indoor wireless experiences for users.

In this paper, the feasibility and performance of millimeter wave (mmWave) 60 GHz ultra-wide band (UWB) systems for gigabit machine-to-machine (M2M) communications are analyzed. Specifically, based on specifications, channel measurements and models for both line-of-sight (LOS) and non-LOS (NLOS) scenarios, 60 GHz propagation mechanisms are summarized, and 60 GHz UWB link budget and performance are analyzed. Tests are performed for determining ranges and antenna configurations. Results show that gigabit capacity can be achieved with omni-directional antennas configuration at the transceiver, especially in LOS conditions. When the LOS path is blocked by a moving person or by radiowave propagation in the NLOS situation, omni-directional and directional antennas configuration at the transceiver is required, especially for a larger range between machines in office rooms. Therefore, it is essential to keep a clear LOS path in M2M applications like gigabit data transfer. The goal of this work is to provide useful information for standardizations and design of 60 GHz UWB systems.