OKATEM (Center of Excellence in Wireless and Optical Communication Technologies) is Turkey’s first R&D center dedicated to wireless and optical communications, established under the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Özyeğin University with the support of the Istanbul Development Agency (ISTKA). The center focuses on developing next-generation 5G and 6G communication solutions in terrestrial, non-terrestrial, and underwater environments using both optical wireless and RF technologies. With a 300-square-meter research area, OKATEM is equipped with advanced infrastructure including a dark room for optical characterization, a temperature-controlled test aquarium for underwater studies, dedicated test vehicles for V2X experiments, and numerous opto-mechanical/electronic, and RF instruments.