Pupils at an Ayrshire secondary school are the first to benefit from pureLifi’s next-generation high-speed internet in a world first pilot scheme.

PureLiFi has deployed its LiFi solutions – which use light to establish wireless internet connections – at Kyle Acamedy in Ayr. The academy will be the first school globally to pilot the technology in a classroom as part of a groundbreaking collaboration with the University of Edinburgh.

Paul Wheelhouse MSP, Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands visited the students taking part in the LiFi pilot to hear about their experiences using the new technology.

He said: “We are pleased to support a Scottish-born company whose complementary, emerging technology has the potential to transform the delivery of wireless broadband communications. The pilot trial in Kyle Academy represents a potentially very valuable contribution to our knowledge and understanding of evolving 5G technologies.”

Collaboration & Support

The project is being overseen by the Scottish Futures Trust, which supports the Scottish Government’s Digital Strategy. Additionally, the Scottish Government has confirmed its support for the pilot, granting the company £16,000 through its Digital Schools initiative.

pureLiFi and the LiFi Research and Development Centre at the University of Edinburgh is providing resources to enable the execution of the pilot with hands-on support and testing.

Professor Harald Haas, co-founder of pureLiFi, commented: “LiFi was born in Scotland at a TED Global talk that I presented in 2011. Seven years later, I am absolutely thrilled to see true LiFi deployed for the first time in a school in Scotland. Connectivity has become a basic need to enable prosperity.

“This world’s first pilot not only offers secure connectivity in a school but hopefully inspires the next generation to join us in innovating for humanity and prosperity.”

pureLiFi Pilot

The installation of pureLiFi’s LiFi-XC system comprises of eight LiFi-enabled LED light bulbs in the ceiling. Students have been granted access to LiFi-XC Stations, which allow them to connect their laptops to take advantage of the high-speed connectivity provided through the lights.

The inspiration for LiFi technology came about through Professor Haas’ 16 years of research in light communication, which was further developed by pureLiFi. It provides high-speed, bi-directional and fully networked wireless communication that uses light, rather than radio waves, to transmit data.

By using light, bandwidth is significantly enhanced. Deployed in a classroom, this has the potential to revolutionise the learning environment by facilitating high-bandwidth learning materials, such as eBooks or videos.

Classrooms throughout the UK are becoming increasingly connected and interactive. Installing LiFi alongside WiFi could help to reduce network congestion; enabling students to better engage and offer greater flexibility in regards to the devices they use.

pureLiFi CEO, Alistair Banham, said LiFi is a “transformative technology” that will “enable the next generation of wireless communications.”

Banham added: “At Kyle Academy, LiFi has enhanced the classroom into a fully connected environment allowing students to have a world of educational tools at their fingertips through light.”