Li-Fi technology for setting up wireless company networks

Fraunhofer IPMS offers Li-Fi communications modules meant to expand or replace existing company data networks. The point-to multi-point-capable optical technology combines the speed, stability and security of wired infrastructures with the flexibility and cost advantages provided by wireless radio solutions.

Wireless data networks are considerably more cost effective than connecting computers with cables. Wireless modules make employees more flexible and mobile as they are able to quickly access the Internet as well as real-time corporate data from anywhere in the company. Currently available wireless (WIFI) solutions, however, are less stable and slower when compared to cabled solutions, particularly in situations where multiple users must share a common radio cell. More importantly, WIFI networks are vulnerable with even encrypted networks being relatively simple for experts to crack. The optical wireless communication developed at Fraunhofer IPMS uses light as a wireless transmission medium. While physical obstacles such as thick walls only weaken radio signal performance allowing attackers to gain sensitive company data via a receiver, the Li-Fi network provides security against hacking attacks even in closed rooms. Moreover the Fraunhofer IPMS communications technology also needs only 15 percent of the energy required by conventional wireless technologies per transmitted user data byte and is up to 10 times faster thanks to a data rate of 1 Gigabit per second at insignificant bit error rates (<10-9). It is therefore particularly suitable for all areas of application in which large amounts of data must be transmitted practically in real time. In addition the new approach also allows for point-to-multi-point communication. This makes it possible, for example, to integrate meeting rooms into a corporate network to provide multiple notebooks simultaneous access.