Orange Luxembourg Bets On Li-Fi For Its New Store

Orange Luxembourg is opening a new store in the Kirchberg Shopping Center which comes equipped with a Li-Fi (or Light Fidelity) dome. The innovative wireless optical technology makes use of visible light to simplify communication services.

A light source equipped with Li-Fi can be used to illuminate and simultaneously transmit information. Communication, especially the Internet, is done via a close and continuous infrared or visible light source.

The Internet And The Image By Light

Li-Fi uses the visible (optical) part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Its protocol layers are adapted to wireless communications, up to ten meters.

One of its principal advantages is its reliance on light and LED – both of which are free and unregulated. Furthermore, the light does not interfere with radio frequencies and therefore remains compatible with radio technologies (Wi-Fi, 3G, 4G …).

“In concrete terms, several LED lamps, combined with a Li-Fi or OCC (Optical Camera Communication) modem, can transmit data to terminals (smartphones, PCs, connected objects, etc.) and allow users to surf the Internet or receive videos, solely thanks to the flow of light,” explains Mustapha Rahem, Distribution Director at Orange Luxembourg.

Unlike radio waves, light does not pass through walls, which ensures the partitioning of data on both sides of the walls, but limits the range of Li-Fi inside buildings. A device in a pocket or bag will not be able to communicate either.

Marc Fleschen, Président de la Light Communications Alliance (LCA), Eric Krier, Conseillé au Service des médias et des communications du Ministère d’État, Corinne Lozé, CEO Orange Luxembourg, and Mustapha Rahem, Directeur Distribution Orange Luxembourg

Micheline Perrufel, Innovation Program Director, led the launch of optical technologies within the Orange group. “We are equipping this store with the new optical technology that offers a very high start, low latency and above all enhanced communication security,” she explains. “It is a complementary solution to Wi-Fi and 5G. But unlike the latter, whose effectiveness decreases with the number of connections that share the signal, Li-Fi guarantees 100% high speed for all.”

Li-Fi also allows the use of optical camera communication, where a simple connection of a vehicle camera or iPhone to a light source will allow data transfer. Demonstrating the new technology to visitor will also be an opportunity for Marc Fleschen to promote communication by optical camera.

Founder and CEO of ZERO.1, a company specializing in OCC, he chairs the Light Communications Alliance – a Luxembourg alliance created in December 2019 –, an association dedicated to the promotion of optical communication networks, and which aims to establish standards for the use of new wireless technologies enabling light communications. Orange is a founding member of the association.

“It is a pride and an honor to be present at the inauguration of the only store in the world equipped with Li-Fi, the result of many years of work and cooperation with the Luxembourg ecosystem,” he said.

Consumer applications

“We are very proud to be able to present this new connectivity technology in Luxembourg,” said Barbara Fangille, Head of Communication at Orange Luxembourg. The Orange Group has been working on Li-Fi technology for three years, in collaboration with an ecosystem of dynamic players on the subject – start-ups (Oledcomm, Pure Li-Fi, Zero.1), major groups such as Signify, Nokia, the CEA and other operators – with the ambition of developing innovative services for users.

Already available for professionals since 2018, Li-Fi is also finding numerous applications for the general public. The sector is in full development and, in time, our usual equipment should naturally be compatible with this technology.

“For now, however, it is already possible to enjoy the benefits of Li-Fi using a connection to Fiber or 3G/4G/5G mobile networks,” says Barbara Fangille. “According to Global Market Insights, by 2023, the Li-Fi market worldwide could be worth $75 billion.

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