Real-time hardware G.hn LiFi infrastructure with D-MIMO and WDM over POF Fronthaul.

In this paper we report, for the first time, measured performance results of the concatenation between two different plastic optical fibre (POF) fronthaul approaches and distributed multiple-input multiple-output (D-MIMO) LiFi using commercial G.hn chipsets. These integrated circuits (IC)s are capable of performing, among other features, MIMO signal processing, orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation, and adaptive bit-loading, which are important features for LiFi systems. The use of commercially available ICs with the aforementioned features, accelerates the mass market adoption of LiFi technology. We consider the POF fronthaul approaches: spatial division multiplexing (SDM) and wavelength division multiplexing (WDM). POFs are interesting for industrial scenarios due to its electromagnetic interference immunity, their low weight and cost. The measured throughput results show that a WDM POF fronthaul, using a red light-emitting diode (LED) and a green laser diode (LD), has ample throughput to support the D-MIMO LiFi link, which proves the viability of the use of POFs as fronthaul for D-MIMO LiFi systems. Our results give input for possible enhancements to the ITU G.vlc standard G.9991.