The main objectives of the project are to provide an open reference architecture for the support of the Internet of Things and to contribute to the standardization of applications based on communication by light. For this purpose, LiFi (Light Fidelity) must meet the ever-increasing demands on existing communication networks in terms of data rates, stability and latency. Compared to WiFi, LiFi provides the advantage of higher possible bandwidths and can be implemented in places where the use of radio frequencies is either not advisable or impossible.

The core task of Fraunhofer FOKUS is the integration of LiFi into 5G-based networks. LiFi is not yet part of standardized 3GPP access technologies. Using the Open5GCore toolkit, experts from our business unit Software-based Networks will be able to seamlessly integrate the new LiFi technology into local, 5G-based industrial networks.

ELIoT originates from the EU innovation program Horizon 2020 and receives 6 million euros in funding from the public-private partnership “Photonics21”. In addition to the Fraunhofer institutes FOKUS and HHI, Signify (formerly Philips Lighting), Nokia, MaxLinear, Deutsche Telekom, KPN, Weidmüller, LightBee, the University of Oxford and Eindhoven University of Technology are also participating in ELIoT.