Askey and pureLiFi Take Aim at an FWA Nemesis: Windows

Why It Matters

By eliminating the need for costly external cabling or signal‑boosting workarounds, the Askey‑pureLiFi bridge can improve FWA reliability and accelerate carrier rollouts, unlocking a multi‑million‑subscriber market.

Key Takeaways

• Windows block mmWave and mid‑band FWA signals, forcing costly workarounds
• PureLiFi’s infrared LiFi delivers ~1 Gbps, enough for typical FWA speeds
• Askey‑pureLiFi two‑box system bridges indoor/outdoor via LiFi and wireless power
• Trial with a major US carrier shows potential for scalable, self‑install FWA

Pulse Analysis

Fixed wireless access has struggled with a simple yet pervasive obstacle: residential windows. Millimeter‑wave and even mid‑band signals lose power passing through glass, especially when coatings filter infrared. Carriers have resorted to drilling holes, running cables, or accepting reduced throughput, all of which increase installation costs and degrade the user experience. As the demand for high‑speed broadband expands into suburban and rural markets, solving the "through‑window" issue is critical for FWA’s viability.

Enter LiFi, the light‑based counterpart to Wi‑Fi, now harnessed by pureLiFi’s infrared technology. Leveraging the emerging 802.11bb standard, the company’s latest modules push data at roughly 1 Gbps—well above the typical 100‑200 Mbps delivered by many FWA deployments. Integrated with Askey’s 5G modem, the solution comprises an indoor unit that feeds Ethernet or Wi‑Fi and an exterior unit clipped to the window frame. Power is transferred wirelessly via a partnership with Solace Power, while an automatic calibration routine determines the optimal transmission path within two minutes, adapting to glass thickness and coatings.

The commercial implications are sizable. Omdia analysts note that a scalable, self‑install bridge could unlock millions of households that currently face signal loss, turning a technical nuisance into a growth engine for carriers. PureLiFi sees this as a "transformational" market shift, moving from niche defense contracts to mass‑market broadband. Early trials with a large U.S. carrier have been promising, and interest from device makers—evidenced by Apple’s LiFi‑related patent filing—suggests the technology could extend beyond FWA into secure consumer applications. If the solution proves reliable at scale, it may redefine how operators deliver high‑speed connectivity without invasive infrastructure.