This invention relates to systems and methods for wireless and wired optical data communications, in particular infrared data communications using techniques borrowed ultra wideband (UWB) radio. Data is input for communication. The data defines a plurality of data symbols for transmission. Each the data symbol is encoded onto first and second optical carriers. The encoding comprises encoding each of the data symbols as respective first and second pulse packets each comprising at least one optical pulse. The encoding uses a common pulse packet position modulation for the first and second carriers. The first and second optical carriers have respective first and second optical wavelengths. An optical signal comprising the first and second optical carriers is transmitted, received, and decoded to recover the data symbols.