pureLiFi, a LiFi technology company spun off from the University of Edinburgh, revealed their latest product the LiFi-XC in London, considered a revolutionary step forward to the future of wireless communications via light. The LiFi-XC is three times smaller than the previous generation and provides high-speed, bi-directional, fully networked and secure wireless communications through light.

(Image: pureLiFi)

The significant progression pureLiFi has made in the miniaturisation of real LiFi technology means that it is now small enough to be integrated into many laptops, tablets and smart appliances.

“Over the past year we have been driving adoption of LiFi and deploying real-world applications of LiFi for our customers globally. We have now reached the point in miniaturization where we will see LiFi move beyond the dongle and be integrated. The LiFi-XC is a big step towards getting this disruptive technology into every bulb and every mobile device," commented Alistair Banham, CEO of pureLiFi.

The LiFi-XC system consists of an access point and USB dongle that is compatible with Windows 7, Windows 10, Linux and macOS operating systems. This step forward in making LiFi commercially available will allow pureLiFi to scale deployments and begin to meet the excitement and demand for this new technology.

LiFi is increasingly viewed as a disruptive technology that can change the way the mobile internet is used as part of future 5G cellular networks while being an enabler of the emerging Internet of Things.

(Image: pureLiFi)

Mostafa Afgani, CTO of pureLiFi, said: “The LiFi-XC is not just an accomplishment in reduced form factor, we have also made substantial leaps in delivering a great user experience. The LiFi-XC offers plug and play connectivity out of the box and supports an even wider range of off the shelf LEDs. We have not just improved the design with LiFi-XC – we have also delivered a module that can enable smart devices and appliances to be LiFi connected today.”

The LiFi-XC offers partners and customers the ability to deploy a fully networked LiFi solution. Unlike other VLC products, the LiFi-XC supports multiple access, roaming, complete mobility and ease of use – providing a level of user experience that is comparable technologies such as Wi-Fi with all the security and density benefits of the light spectrum.

For future systems, LiFi is well-positioned to help solve the rising concern that our growing reliance on connectivity is creating an unprecedented strain on wireless networks resulting in “The Spectrum Crunch”. LiFi is one of the wireless technologies that will enable the development of IoT, 5G and will open up thousands of additional channels for wireless communications and unleash unprecedented data and bandwidth.