5G Ceiling Lights

Nokia Bell Labs and Osram are looking for ways on how to use ceiling lights to deliver indoor 5G service.

14:10 30 April 2018

Nokia Bell Labs and Osram team up to determine if ceiling lights could be used as foundation for indoor 5G radio networks when fitted with radio modules.

5G is the next generation mobile network and is expected to deliver speeds that are up to 100% faster than existing 4G. However, for it to work, it requires lots of multiple input and output (MIMO) antennas to boost signal and capacity. Common infrastructures, like ceiling lights, can be useful as they are already typically installed close together in buildings.

 

The light fittings in offices and factories can be hooked up to a light control and network management system, which can then be connected to the building’s communication access line. This method is expected to deliver far better results when compared to using WiFi access points and repeaters. The lights can also be used to collect sensor data to create further insights for businesses.

 

The Nokia Bell Labs and Osram solution is being presented at this week’s Brooklyn 5G Summit.

 

Thorsten Müller, Head of Innovation at Osram, said: “Our office and industrial luminaires are already networked for remote control.

 

“In this R&D project, we equipped them with special broadband radio modules, allowing mobile devices like cell phones and laptops to connect to the luminaire network and transmit data.”