Install and connect

Point-to-point high-capacity connectivity is established with two optical transceivers about the size of a security camera, pointing at each other and having a direct line-of-sight between them.

The invisible eye-safe infrared beam of light carries the information without any signal spilling outside the secure receiver area, and no other communication signals interfering with the connection.

Units are mounted and coarsely aimed at eachother via a simple user interface with a built-in camera feed. Then the pointing and tracking algorithm takes over and optimizes the optical link alignment with an internally motorized mechanism and keeps them aligned, compensating for the building’s shifting/movements.

KORUZA optical network is designed to best integrate in existing wired and wireless networks, the built-in routing platform enables seamless integration with other wireless communication system equipment via ethernet or SFP ports and can thus extend any network, increase its throughput or be the core of a last-mile mesh network backbone. The sturdy waterproof aluminium enclosure protects the units from long-term outdoor exposure as well as boosts a number of mounting options to suit any installation.

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Koruza key advantages

  • Last-mile networking, no spectrum licences required
  • Easy installation
  • Fast adaptations/upgrades possible, no radio spectrum congestion

a) Last-mile networking, no spectrum licences required

KORUZA wireless optical network is reducing the cost of deploying fiber infrastructure to homes (FTTH) in contrast to large investments of installing fiber cables, dictated more by the cost of permits, licensing and digging the actual trenches than the fiber itself.

For example only trenching in Germany ranges between 40 EUR/m to 100 EUR/m in urban and rural areas, London reaches 90-150 EUR/m and New York can range up to 500 EUR/m, making wireless solutions extremely cost effective in comparison. A complete KORUZA link (comprised of 2 units) at 1 Gbps or 10 Gbps capacities is in the thousand EUR range, which amounts to no more than 10 EUR/m.

We enable building wireless networks with license-free optical networking WiFi technology, which is of huge advantage where installing cables at public properties is complicated because of permits-obtaining and legal-grounds-covering procedures. Notably this is an issue and huge delay factor even for large companies.

b) Easy installation

To connect two buildings across a road, simply bolt one KORUZA optical transceiver to one building and another KORUZA optical transceiver to the other building, and point them at each other. Once you get them roughly lined up, the transceivers will see each other, and automatically adjust their position for the best optical connection. Finally, plug in your existing routers with a regular network cable.

Each KORUZA transceiver watches its partner and adjusts automatically to maintain its laser connection even as the building moves with its environment.

And if anything does go wrong, the link-protection system will instantly identify the problem, notify you, and suggest a solution.

Measured in urban cost-per-metre, a KORUZA link costs 5–10 EUR per metre, compared to 100+ EUR per metre for wired connections.

Offering a simple installation and enabling setting-up of a link in 1 hour, makes KORUZA easily scalable and incomparably cost-efficient.

Set-up KORUZA in 7 steps:

  1. Install the mount.
  2. Power up the unit.
  3. Connect a smartphone or a computer to the unit’s WiFi.
  4. Coarsely aim the units and tighten screws.

c) Fast adaptations/upgrades possible, no radio spectrum congestion

KORUZA does not suffer from radio frequency interference or band over-crowdedness and is immune to electromagnetic interferences. It brings a technical change by creating a wireless optical system that can work in urban areas and transfer data much faster than any currently accessible radio-based wireless systems.

The radio spectrum is most commonly congested in densely populated cities. Radio based solutions are managing to deliver 1 Gbps capacities at the moment, while we already have a 10 Gbps version of KORUZA. As technology progresses, we only need to make small changes to support greater throughputs, while radio based technologies must be completely redesigned to once potentially offer the same throughputs as KORUZA. Over the following years, fast innovation and improvements in speed and distance are possible.

All Features/Advantages

  • An innovative modular design
  • License-free operation (contrary to radio communication)
  • High-speed IR data link (1 Gbps and 10 Gbps version)
  • Optical communication, not subjected to radio regulations
  • Does not suffer from radio frequency interference or band over-crowdedness
  • Immune to electromagnetic interferences
  • Automated motorized alignment and tracking
  • Webcam based pointing mechanism
  • Link failure notification with an image
  • Simple installation
  • Easily scalable
  • High security level operation
  • Non-intrusive to the environment
  • Low-speed IR management data link
  • Protocol transparency
  • Built-in openwrt routing platform
  • USB-WiFi installer interface
  • No software needed on client devices
  • Multiple PoE ports, for daisy-chaining or WiFi router connection
  • Low bit error rates
  • Total ownership
  • Fair production
  • Collaborative desig
  • Flexible
  • Future-Proof

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Reliable

Wireless optical communications can be influenced by weather effects that limit the optical visibility. KORUZA has been engineered with sufficient link margin to provide stable connectivity in reasonable weather conditions.

The attenuation on an FSO link arises from scattering of light by particles suspended in air. The closer the particle diameter is to the wavelength of the light, the more significant the effect is.

Rain consists of large droplets and the optical link even in most dense downpours does not get significantly attenuated.

Snow like rain consists of large particles and as such rarely presents significant link attenuation. With correct installation we ensure the snow build-up does not create an obstacle for the beam of light.

Fog is potentially the most significant attenuation source for wireless optical communications due to particles size in the wavelength range. KORUZA has been extensively tested in such scenarios and a number of scientific studies have been created.

Ice can coat units in the right conditions and disrupt many communication technologies. KORUZA can optionally include a heating element to prevent build-up on the lens and assure reliable operation.

Hail may cause damage to many mechanical structures, KORUZA is however protected by a robust waterproof enclosure, able to withstand it.

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Future-proof


Higher standards, easy integrations. As your needs and your network’s change, you are not be stuck with a system you can’t adapt. Koruza’s design keeps your network yours. No lock-in and no proprietary black boxes.

Because KORUZA’s hardware and software is future-proof:

  • the engineering is held to a higher standard,
  • your technical team can identify issues more easily, because the designs are transparent,
  • you can modify the system according to your needs without restriction,
  • you can integrate easily with other systems that support established, open standards,
  • we earn your trust through great service, not by locking you in to one provider.

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The idea


KORUZA has been developed as a joint project between the IRNAS Institute for Development of Advanced Applied Systems and company Fabrikor. Its aim is to make free-space-optical (FSO) technology truly affordable and accessible to everyone.

FSO means transmitting data with a light beam through open space. FSO systems provide ultra-fast data connections, and are especially useful in urban areas where radio spectra are congested. Till now, only large, well-funded organisations have been able to use FSO technology.

To make FSO connections affordable, KORUZA takes an innovative approach, dramatically reducing their cost by combining mass-produced parts, best-practice networking solutions, and open standards.

Our journey began in 2012 with a scientific paper by Luka Mustafa and Benn Thomsen investigating the feasibility of a low-cost wireless optical system. This led to a series of COST Action papers evaluating environmental and other effects in our World Wide Koruza experiment.

In 2015, the Shuttleworth Foundation awarded our founder Luka Mustafa a fellowship, which funded the development of KORUZA DIY: open-source transceiver kits for scientific research and experimental development. These kits are available through our educational programs.

KORUZA Pro incorporates years of enhancements and innovations in a single, compact system for professional use. It features significantly improved and simplified installation, faster and more precise tracking, and integrated routing and management. KORUZA Pro is future-proof: it integrates seamlessly with existing networks, and can be serviced by anyone, making it ideal for long-term deployments.

Our products are sold and manufactured in Slovenia by Fabrikor, IRNAS’ subsidiary company and the manufacturing and selling entity for the KORUZA programme.

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