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At the 2025 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in March of this year, pureLiFi and Solace Power announced a new and innovative product: the Bridge XC.
The goal of the Bridge XC is to enable fixed wireless access providers -- including 5G home internet, other cellular broadband providers and satellite internet -- to more quickly and easily deploy broadband service to customers. Just recently, pureLiFi partnered with digital service provider, du Telecom, to improve deployment for 5G and fixed wireless connections.
Harnessing the power of Li-Fi technology, which uses light signals to transmit data, the Bridge XC promises low latency and the potential of download speeds up to 5,000 megabits per second. To get a better understand of what this means for you as a home internet user, it helps to know how this system works.
So, how does it work?
How will this bridge system actually work? It consists of small indoor and outdoor units that attach to a window. The outdoor unit receives the cellular or satellite signal and, using Li-Fi, transfers that signal through the glass to the indoor unit, which essentially broadcasts that data to a Wi-Fi router in the home. The Bridge XC can safely deliver up to 20 watts of power and 1Gbps of data through a window. Since this is a wireless solution, it can eliminate a lengthy installation process and make broadband deployment much easier for internet providers and consumers. And because the receiver is outside the home, it can make 5G home broadband viable even in areas where the signal isn't the best.
"The enthusiastic response from our collaborations with leading global telecom brands validates the transformative potential of the Bridge XC System," Alistair Banham, CEO of pureLiFi, writes in a press release.
"This latest technology is poised to revolutionize the economics of FWA and broadband deployment worldwide, making high-speed connectivity more accessible, affordable and efficient for broadband suppliers, ultimately improving service and user satisfaction," he said. "The market is clearly moving towards Li-Fi as it will solve connectivity challenges of today and tomorrow."
The partnership between pureLiFi and du Telecom will help simplify the outdoor deployment of the Bridge XC's Consumer Premises Equipment (CPE).
"Buildings naturally challenge 5G coverage due to materials that significantly attenuate sub-6Ghz and mmWave spectrum signals," du Telecom's Chief Technology Officer, Saleem Alblooshi, writes on a press release.
"Bridge XC offers a solution that not only eliminates these barriers but also providers users with lightning-fast installation and reliable performance."
Where is this technology available?
A spokesperson from pureLiFi tells CNET that the Bridge XC is still in its trial period. However, consumers in the US will be among the first to have access. The spokesperson shared that the system can help close the gap for the many fixed wireless carriers struggling to provide wireless internet connectivity to Americans.
“US carriers are running into problems having sufficient network capacity, and Bridge XC can help them to solve that by moving the 5G modem outside,” the pureLiFi spokesperson said.
To that point, T-Mobile announced in December that over 1 million users are on the waiting list for 5G home internet service.
Many rural communities have minimal access to adequate internet connections. In areas where cellular internet connections are rising to help bridge the broadband gap for rural Americans, this Li-Fi solution can help address the network capacity issues among broadband providers.
What are the benefits of using this technology?
Li-Fi promises high speeds and lower latency than Wi-Fi, and the Bridge XC also touts other positives:
- A more straightforward and cost-effective installation process: This product aims to make the lives of broadband companies easier and to be a faster and less expensive option for customers. (More details on that in a bit.)
- Faster speeds and low latency: The Bridge XC System can promise multi-gigabit speeds of up to 5Gbps. Overall, Li-Fi technology will feature a lower latency than Wi-Fi.
- Energy efficient: Unlike Wi-Fi, which uses radio waves,Li-Fi technology uses light signals to transmit data. The Bridge XC system specifically uses near-infrared light.
- Increased security: Li-Fi technology is already used among organizations in the defense and government sectors.
Installing the Bridge XC could be more cost-effective than installing cable or fiber internet. This wireless system operates as an outdoor CPE or a wireless networking device that can be easily installed outside the home, eliminating the need to drill holes or run cables through the walls.
Installation will also be quick and easy. The system uses near-infrared light and wireless power links through a window. The pureLiFi spokesperson told me that setup takes as little as five minutes.
It’s worth noting that Li-Fi technology isn’t without faults. One of the main criticisms is its limited range, probably why the technology is not yet mainstream. Li-Fi requires a line-of-sight to light signals, so your connection will be confined to closed spaces.
