LED-driven Li-Fi-system from Fraunhofer HHI launched in Japan

07 May 2018

Telecoms company Sangikyo launches "LED Backhaul" onto Japanese market, with plans for further developments together.

LED Backhaul: Sangikyo has launched first Li-Fi product based on HHI technology.

Following Fraunhofer HHI’s development of an optical wireless communication technology, known as Li-Fi, industry partner Sangikyo, a Japan-based telecoms system company, has launched the first Li-Fi product – called the LED Backhaul.

This is an LED-based optical link that is initially being introduced as a 4K/8K Video Relay, which can achieve data rates between 100 and 750 megabits per second.

Fraunhofer HHI, one of the world's leading research institutes for optical telecommunications systems explained how this development could play an important part in the business following the emergence of 5G systems: “The upcoming 5G network deployment asks for flexible solutions regarding frequency spectrum, and there are considerations about implementing optical links for data backhauling,” said HHI’s LED Backhaul launch statement.

Since 2014, HHI has pioneered the idea of a short-range optical wireless backhaul link through research in two European research projects (SODALES and 5G Crosshaul). Apart from backhauling, the newly-developed LED backhaul can be used as a flexible network, as a form of LAN extension if no cable is available. This is a conceivable solution for factories or subways, areas that are not easily penetrated by radio waves.

Yasukazu Sengoku, COO of Sangikyo, commented, “We have worked with HHI to advance the joint development of high-speed wireless communication with LED light and have attained a realistic application. In future, LED backhaul will be standardized by IEEE 802.15.13 and by international standardization activities of HHI.”

Further developments

Prof. Ronald Freund, Head of Photonic Networks & Systems at HHI, said, “We are developing the communication technologies of the future and are pleased that the new wireless system with LED light, which was brought to the market in cooperation with Sangikyo, will be used on the Japanese market. We will continue to work with Sangikyo and develop a wide range of high-speed wireless systems with LED light."

Optical wireless transmission is a future-oriented technology for fixed and mobile wireless optical communication over comparatively short distances. Possible applications are wireless backhaul and fronthaul for 5G, wireless communication for industry 4.0 as well as in indoor areas alongside WiFi and LTE, for instance in conference rooms.