pureLiFi works with Astronics on lifi-based airplane connectivity

26 Sep 2018

Benefits of optical wireless communications for airline operations demonstrated at Boston's APEX EXPO.

Astronics has supplied over10,000 CWAPs for Boeing and Airbus aircraft.

pureLiFi, the Edinburgh-based technology company using light to create next-generation wireless networks, is collaborating with Astronics, East Aurora, NY, a provider of technologies for aerospace, defense and semiconductor industries, to explore the deployment of LiFi for aircraft applications. Astronics is this week demonstrating the technology at the APEX EXPO in Boston, US.

LiFi is high-speed, bidirectional wireless communication of data using light. By using LiFi-enabled LED lamps and a mobile device with a photo-detector, data can be securely transferred using light at much greater speeds and capacity than with radio-based Wi-Fi as well as minimizing the potential for interference.

pureLiFi’s solutions will be demonstrated by PDT, an Astronics Company, at the Boston conference. The APEX EXPO is the industry’s largest passenger experience event – attended by more than 3,000 industry professionals, including representatives from nearly 100 airlines.

Alistair Banham, CEO of pureLiFi, commented, “We are delighted that LiFi has been identified by Astronics as a technology that can improve the passenger experience and that they have selected our solutions to demonstrate this potential.

pureLiFi worked with BT to deploy LiFi technology in BT's Adastral Park facility.

Next-gen connectivity

“To collaborate with an organisation as established as Astronics, which works with all major global airlines and airframe manufacturers, is testament to the strength of our offering. We look forward to working with them to demonstrate this exciting use-case for our technology in next-generation light-based wireless networks.”

Mark Schwartz, Vice President of PDT, an Astronics Company, added: “This is a brand new technology and we are exploring ways in which it can improve the passenger, and even crew, experience on an aircraft in terms of connectivity. LiFi has the opportunity to be a future passenger experience delighter and we are excited to explore and discuss these possibilities with it.”