pureLiFi to demonstrate consumer-ready Gigabit LiFi

pureLiFi has announced it will present the first Gigabit LiFi components in a commercial device at Mobile World Congress (MWC) later this month.

The new optical components will allow for mobile device manufacturers to start designing LiFi into mobile handsets. pureLiFi CEO Alistair Banham highlighted the benefits it can provide to mobile phone manufacturers, and said many are already showing an interest.

“The ecosystem is crying out for new spectrum and new wireless technology that will service the global appetite for more bandwidth and digital innovation. Device manufacturers need new technology to be sure they’re ready for 5G and differentiate between their competition,” he said.

“We’re already in discussions with mobile phone manufacturers, demonstrating how our optical LiFi components will enable innovation in their products and transform the user experience. We’ve led global adoption of LiFi into critical use cases such as government and industry and now we’re bringing the technology into every device and every light for everyone.”

LiFi delivers 1000 times the bandwidth of traditional wireless, is virtually interference-free, offers ultralow latency solutions and is more secure than radio technology such as Wi-Fi or cellular. The company said it can help solve the challenges faced by 5G and, in 2018, O2 Telefonica announced its trial with pureLiFi as an answer to 5G indoor communications.

An industry standard for light communications, based on the Wi-Fi standard in IEEE 802.11, is set for release in 2021.

MWC 2019, held from 25–28 February in Barcelona, will focus on intelligent connectivity. pureLiFi said its “LiFi demonstrators will epitomise how light can deliver the next generation of connectivity for 5G and beyond”.

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