PLiFi: Analog Amplify and Forward Relaying in Cascaded PLC-LiFi Networks

LiFi has become an interesting and now more mature WiFi complement. To overcome the coverage limitations of LiFi and to create robustness against signal blockage, we use analog relays that cooperate with each other in both transmissions and signal reception. We present an ultra low-cost cascaded PLC-LiFi communication system comprising Power-Line Communication (PLC) for backhauling and Light Fidelity (LiFi) for wireless access. The interworking between the two technologies is achieved through low-complexity analog Amplify-and-Forward Relaying (AFR), i.e., the luminaries act as simple media converter. Results reveal the impact of amplification of AFR on the SNR as well as the relationship between the PLC and the optical wireless link length. Moreover, even so the gain from cooperative communication is substantial it is limited due to noise propagation in AFR.