As result of a co-development partnership with the Scottish company pureLiFi, Lucibel presents the world’s first industrialized LiFi solution on the market
LiFi (Light Fidelity) is a communication technology through modulated LED light that enables data exchange between a specific LED lighting fixture and a computer, making Internet access possible. The performance of this bidirectional broadband connection has been multiplied by 4 since the installation of a Lucibel prototype in June 2015. The reception of data transmitted by the lighting fixture is done via a LiFi USB key whose size has been divided by 5 since the initial prototype installation.
Communication technology through light has existed for several years, however only in low-speed unidirectional uses (VLC, Visible Light Communication) which enables the deployment of indoor geolocation, with applications in sectors such as retail and tourism.
By positioning itself as a complimentary technology to Wifi, this smart and connected light is taking on a new dimension thanks to Lucibel.
According to the American research institute Gartner, The demand of the Internet of Things ((« IOT ») will come to more than 50 billion devices by 2020 to 2022 compared to 5 billion today, which will lead to an exponential growth in the volume of data exchanged. LiFi technology has positioned itself as one of the wireless networking technologies that will enable the development of IOT.
The LiFi lumianire and USB key, resulting from the partnership between Lucibel and pureLifi, will be exclusively manufactured by Lucibel in France at its industrial site in Barentin (Normandy). This will be the case whether marketed by Lucibel or pureLiFi.
Edouard Lebrun, Chief Innovation Officer at Lucibel:
“The production of this LiFi solution in France forms part of Lucibel new industrial strategy implemented for over 2 years. Indeed, thanks to the relocation of its manufacturing facility in France, Lucibel has been able to co-develop, industrialize and market its LiFi solution in less than 15 months, which gives it the only solution of the market easily integrable in a building.”
As a first step, the Lucibel LiFi solution aimed essentially at professionals to offer them Internet access mobility where wifi is not available or badly deployed.
Harald Burchardt Chief Operations Officer (COO) at pureLiFi:
“The fruition of our important partnership marks the realisation of new and significant business opportunities for innovators in the lighting industry like Lucibel. With pureLiFi and Lucibel powering this new generation of data enabled lighting we can now begin to see the real life application of this emerging technology, offering safe and secure wireless communications on the path to unlimited bandwidth and unlimited data.”
The results are promising with big names already seduced by this innovative solution:
- Nexity, first integrated player on the real estate market in France (housing, offices, managed residences, hotels, shops…), is the first end user of the industrialized LiFi lumianire. A collaboration and an operational partnership that Loïc Daniel, Deputy CEO of Nexity Business Property, welcomes: « The innovation strategy of Nexity is illustrated by a will to meet the needs of occupants for connected living and work spaces, flexible and oriented to their well-being. We congratulate ourselves on this approach of co-innovation with a company as Lucibel, who will be a supplier of new solutions for the real estate of tomorrow.
- Microsoft is also implementing the LiFi solution at its innovation center in Issy-les-Moulineaux in order to share with its clients the opportunities offered by the technology.
- SLMS (Schneider Lucibel Managed Services, Joint-Venture between Schneider Electric and Lucibel) also markets the solution through its «LiFi as a Service by SLMS» offer.
Frédéric Granotier, President and Founder of Lucibel, is confident:
“This major breakthrough enables Lucibel Group to become the link between the world of lighting and the one of IT. With the integration of the LiFi technology in smartphones and tablets, expected within 2-3 years, the private individual market segment will also be opened to us.”
Alistair Banham, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at pureLiFi:
“Our partnership with Lucibel, who are at the forefront of lighting innovation allows us to accelerate LiFi’s real world commercial implementation. This partnership between two innovative companies has resulted in a worlds-first LiFi integrated luminaire and this is a step towards LiFi’s future as a 5G technology.”