Wireless powered communication (WPC) is a promising technology that enables wireless devices to be powered by dedicated wireless power transmitters, allowing continuous and stable microwave energy transfer. This technology has the potential to significantly improve the performance of wireless communication systems by providing larger throughput, higher robustness, and increased flexibility compared to battery-powered counterparts. However, the integration of wireless energy and information transmission presents new research challenges and implementation issues. RF-enabled wireless energy transfer (WET) is a key enabling technology for WPC, which allows wireless devices to harvest energy from RF signals. This technology offers practical advantages such as long operating range, low production cost, small receiver form factor, and efficient energy multicasting. However, the high attenuation of microwave energy over distance limits its application to low-power devices. Recent advances in antenna technologies and RF energy harvesting circuits have enabled more efficient energy transfer and harvesting. WPC can be applied in various scenarios, including IoT/IoE systems, WSNs for environment monitoring, and smart power grids. It can also be used in sensors with lower maintenance costs and enhanced flexibility. The combination of wireless energy and information transmission raises challenges in design and implementation, such as the need for efficient energy and information transmission techniques, and the design of wireless powered communication networks (WPCNs). The article discusses the state-of-the-art of RF-enabled WET technologies, their applications to wireless communications, and the key design challenges and opportunities in WPC. It also covers the network model for wireless powered communication, the design of RF energy receivers, energy beamforming, and the challenges in simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT). The article highlights the importance of accurate channel state information (CSI) for efficient WPC and the potential of massive MIMO and distributed antenna systems in improving WPC performance. Future research directions in WPC include the coexistence of wireless energy and communication networks, cross-layer design, hardware implementation, and health and safety considerations. The article concludes that WPC has significant potential to improve wireless communication systems and is an important building block for future wireless systems.Wireless powered communication (WPC) is a promising technology that enables wireless devices to be powered by dedicated wireless power transmitters, allowing continuous and stable microwave energy transfer. This technology has the potential to significantly improve the performance of wireless communication systems by providing larger throughput, higher robustness, and increased flexibility compared to battery-powered counterparts. However, the integration of wireless energy and information transmission presents new research challenges and implementation issues. RF-enabled wireless energy transfer (WET) is a key enabling technology for WPC, which allows wireless devices to harvest energy from RF signals. This technology offers practical advantages such as long operating range, low production cost, small receiver form factor, and efficient energy multicasting. However, the high attenuation of microwave energy over distance limits its application to low-power devices. Recent advances in antenna technologies and RF energy harvesting circuits have enabled more efficient energy transfer and harvesting. WPC can be applied in various scenarios, including IoT/IoE systems, WSNs for environment monitoring, and smart power grids. It can also be used in sensors with lower maintenance costs and enhanced flexibility. The combination of wireless energy and information transmission raises challenges in design and implementation, such as the need for efficient energy and information transmission techniques, and the design of wireless powered communication networks (WPCNs). The article discusses the state-of-the-art of RF-enabled WET technologies, their applications to wireless communications, and the key design challenges and opportunities in WPC. It also covers the network model for wireless powered communication, the design of RF energy receivers, energy beamforming, and the challenges in simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT). The article highlights the importance of accurate channel state information (CSI) for efficient WPC and the potential of massive MIMO and distributed antenna systems in improving WPC performance. Future research directions in WPC include the coexistence of wireless energy and communication networks, cross-layer design, hardware implementation, and health and safety considerations. The article concludes that WPC has significant potential to improve wireless communication systems and is an important building block for future wireless systems.