This post is also available in:
עברית (Hebrew)
A new optical wireless system developed in the UK is aiming to reshape secure communications by eliminating a key vulnerability in conventional wireless networks: radio frequency emissions. The system, named Kitefin XE, transmits data using invisible light, offering a highly secure and interference-resistant alternative to WiFi.
Deployed by Edinburgh-based pureLiFi, the Kitefin XE supports high-speed data transmission over an area of approximately 80 square meters. It operates entirely through light-based communication, meaning it does not emit radio frequencies—a feature that makes it undetectable to standard signal monitoring and highly resistant to jamming.
This approach offers clear advantages for sensitive environments, including government, defense, and critical infrastructure sites, where communications security is paramount and RF congestion or interception is a concern.
The system is certified under the IEEE 802.11bb standard, an emerging global benchmark for Light Fidelity (LiFi) technology, according to the company. This means that outside of addressing major cybersecurity risks associated with RF-based wireless networks, is also outpaces standard WiFi speeds.
Kitefin XE can also be integrated with Ethernet or fiber infrastructure, giving it flexibility in deployment scenarios where hybrid connectivity is required. Its design is particularly suited for locations where cabling is unfeasible or conventional wireless is compromised—such as secure facilities, field operations, and areas with strict electromagnetic emission restrictions.
The device builds on earlier tactical-grade LiFi solutions previously tested with the U.S. military. The development is supported by In-Q-Tel (IQT), a U.S. nonprofit that funds advanced technology with national security applications.
As cybersecurity threats grow increasingly complex, light-based communications like Kitefin XE represent a novel way to reduce exposure to external attacks while maintaining fast, reliable connectivity. For sectors where discretion and resilience are non-negotiable, optical wireless systems may soon play a central role in secure digital infrastructure.
