WiFO: A Hybrid WiFi Free-Space Optical Communication Networks of Femtocells

The recent growth of markets for smart homes and the Internet of Things (IoT) create a significant demand in wireless access capacity. Consequently, much of current research has focused on efficient utilization of RF (Radio Frequency) spectrum. In this paper, an orthogonal approach using Free Space Optic (FSO) technology is proposed to increase capacities of indoor wireless networks. Specifically, we describe WiFO, a novel wireless indoor communication system based on the femtocell architecture that integrates both RF and FSO technologies. WiFO aims to increase the wireless capacities while retaining the mobility offered by the existing WiFi networks. Our preliminary prototype shows promising results to significantly boost up the capacity of the existing WiFi networks.