LiFi Standardization

Since 2015, the Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute has been working continuously on the ongoing LiFi standardization activities. Compared to the previous IEEE Standard 802.15.7-2011, the current LiFi projects ITU-T G.9991, IEEE P802.15.13 and P802.11bb introduce a number of new technologies (OFDM, Adaptive Transmission, MIMO, Handover and Relaying) which make LiFi similarly powerful like radio-based mobile communications. Technically, these projects address similar goals. ITU-T G.9991 is based on the well-known home networking standard G.hn G.hn (G.996x) which is also used in Powerline-Modems. IEEE P802.15.13 (2017-2020) targets specialized industrial applications characterized by small, high-value-added quantities. IEEE P802.11bb (2018-2022) focuses on future mass applications that make each luminare a wireless access point. Every smartphone or IoT device can then access the Internet via the light. For this, additional requirements must be met, such as low cost and low energy consumption. In this way, LiFi can be used in traditional mobile networks, such as Wi-Fi and 4G/5G, to further increase of capacity and user numbers.

Publications