Li-Fi: New wireless technology offers connection speeds 100 times faster than Wi-Fi

What is Li-Fi technology?

Li-Fi stands for Light Fidelity. Li-Fi is a mobile wireless communication technology that uses light instead of radio frequencies to transmit data. The experience of using Li-Fi is similar to Wi-Fi but with many advantages. Like other wireless communication technologies, Li-Fi can be used in many applications such as internet access, phone-to-phone or phone-to-TV communication, or in emerging use cases such as augmented or mixed reality.

Imagine being able to connect to high-speed internet just by flipping a light switch. Li-Fi is a wireless optical networking technology that uses LEDs to transmit data. Li-Fi technology essentially uses light, not radio waves, to transmit information. This approach offers several benefits, such as the ability to work in areas prone to electromagnetic interference, such as hospitals and airplane cabins, and it also offers faster data transmission speeds.

Li-Fi uses common household LED light bulbs to enable data transmission, reaching speeds of up to 224 gigabits per second. Li-Fi bulbs are equipped with a chip that modulates light to transmit optical data that is invisible to the human eye. Li-Fi data is transmitted through the LED bulb and received by optical sensors.

A brief history of Li-Fi technology

Li-Fi technology was introduced by Professor Harald Haas - Head of the Department of Mobile Communications at the University of Edinburgh (UK) in a talk at TED Global in 2011. Professor Haas is the co-founder of pureLiFi, a company that produces Li-Fi products to integrate with LED lighting systems.

In 2013, pureLiFi released the world's first commercial Li-Fi technology, marking a breakthrough in wireless communications technology. Two years later, pureLiFi partnered with French lighting company Lucibel to launch the world's first industrialized Li-Fi solution, which has been deployed in multiple locations, including Microsoft's headquarters in Paris.

The next-generation Li-Fi system called Li-Fi - XC, released in 2017, is a certified plug-and-play system that works with USB devices and can be integrated into laptops, tablets, and smart devices.

Li-Fi technology offers many benefits, including faster internet speeds and increased security, especially in areas where radio frequencies may be unsafe or unavailable. With rapid development and expansion, Li-Fi technology is sure to revolutionize wireless communications in the coming years.

The history of Li-Fi has been marked by various milestones since Professor Haas introduced the technology in 2011. Since then, pureLiFi has been at the forefront of developing and commercializing Li-Fi products. Many other companies have also started working on Li-Fi products and solutions, and the market is expected to grow rapidly.

According to a report by market research firm Research Nester (India), the global Li-Fi market is forecast to reach 4.5 billion USD by 2035, with a compound annual growth rate of about 65%.

Li-Fi technology will join Wi-Fi to complete the wireless connectivity ecosystem.

According to the announcement of IEEE on July 13, the 802.11bb standard has been added to the list of new wireless communication standards. This move is welcomed by global Li-Fi businesses, as it will help speed up the deployment and application of this new data transmission technology standard into life.

The latest standard of Wi-Fi technology is 802.11be, also known as Wi-Fi 7, with the highest speed of up to 30 gigabits/second, 3 times faster than the speed of Wi-Fi 6 (9.6 gigabits/second). Meanwhile, the popular Wi-Fi standards today operate on the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, providing speeds ranging from 200 megabits/second to 1.3 gigabits/second.

If Wi-Fi uses radio waves to transmit data, Li-Fi uses light wave technology, more specifically light signals to transmit data through LEDs and does not interfere with existing radio signals.

With this advantage, Li-Fi has long been highly appreciated by experts thanks to its faster, more reliable and safer wireless communication than Wi-Fi and 5G. However, the weakness of this technology is that it is limited if there are obstacles such as walls, or places with low light.

Although Li-Fi technology has outstanding advantages, this new technology will not have the potential to replace radio-based network technologies such as Wi-Fi or 5G. Radio waves still have a huge advantage in transmitting information over the air environment over very long distances and through objects. Instead, Li-Fi will be exploited in cases of high-speed data transmission at short distances and with few obstacles.

“The ability of Li-Fi to transmit data in line of sight increases security, reduces the risk of interference and eavesdropping, and allows indoor navigation with centimeter-level accuracy,” said Dominic Schulz, an expert at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Physics HHI (Germany), one of the organizations supporting Li-Fi technology.

To date, several companies have begun manufacturing Li-Fi modules for transmitters and connected devices. Among them, pureLiFi offers its 14.5mm thick Light Antenna ONE module to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for testing and evaluation.

What are the applications of Li-Fi technology?

Reduce the load on wireless communication networks:The need to use radio frequency spectrum to transmit information is increasing. Therefore, the use of light-based Li-Fi technology will reduce the load on radio communication systems, especially in crowded areas with high network usage needs.

Smart lighting:Any private or public lighting system including streetlights can be used to provide Li-Fi hotspots and the same sensor and communications infrastructure can be used to monitor and control light and data.

Mobile connection:Laptops, smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices can connect directly using Li-Fi. The short-range connection of Li-Fi technology will provide very high data speeds and good security.

Safety in hazardous environments:Li-Fi offers a safe alternative to the electromagnetic interference problem of using radio frequencies in hazardous, high-security environments such as mines and petrochemical plants.

Safety in the medical environment:Li-Fi does not emit electromagnetic fields and therefore does not interfere with medical instruments nor is it interfered with by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines.

Air:Li-Fi can be used to reduce weight and cables, and increase flexibility in seating arrangements in aircraft cabins where LEDs have been deployed. In-flight entertainment (IFE) systems can also be supported and integrated with passengers' mobile devices.

Underwater communication:Due to the strong signal absorption in the aquatic environment, the use of radio frequency in this environment is ineffective. Li-Fi is considered an effective alternative for short-range communication in the aquatic environment.

Vehicles and means of transport:Nowadays, the street lighting system, traffic signs and signals as well as the headlights and taillights of cars are switching to using LED lights. Therefore, the implementation of Li-Fi technology will help communication between cars and cars and between cars and street lighting systems more effectively.

What does LiFi mean for humans?

Li-Fi technology is poised to revolutionize wireless communication, offering faster and more secure data transmission than traditional Wi-Fi. While it functions similarly to Wi-Fi, Li-Fi uses light instead of radio waves to transmit data, and boasts a much larger bandwidth capacity, making it ideal for use in densely populated urban areas.

In fact, streetlights could soon be used to provide data on everything from pedestrians to vehicles, improving the functionality of city infrastructure. While currently used primarily in industrial settings, Li-Fi is predicted to make its way into smart homes and become an integral part of future building automation.

With its advantages in speed and security, Li-Fi is set to become a game changer in the world of wireless communications.

Li-Fi - sustainable technology to protect the environment

Li-Fi technology is not only fast but also environmentally sustainable. One of the main advantages of Li-Fi technology is that it eliminates the need for electronic devices such as routers, modems, signal repeaters, amplifiers and antennas that consume energy 24/7. Since Li-Fi is connected to LED bulbs, it does not require additional power consumption, thus reducing costs in the home and workplace.

Furthermore, Li-Fi technology has the potential to use solar power to transmit data, allowing people without internet access or with limited power to connect wirelessly to websites. Li-Fi technology would be a great opportunity to bring internet access to remote and underdeveloped areas, which could help bridge the digital divide.

The future of Li-Fi technology

With faster connectivity and data transfer, this is an exciting space for businesses. The integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Li-Fi will bring countless opportunities for retailers and other businesses. For example, a store owner can transfer data to multiple customers’ phones quickly and securely.

Li-Fi technology has been in development for over a decade and many Li-Fi products have been created since its inception. Companies across various industries such as defense, healthcare, lighting, IT infrastructure, telecommunications companies and equipment integrators are working on Li-Fi solutions for various use cases.

The Li-Fi market is also expected to gain widespread adoption in defense and security applications in the coming years. Key factors that could drive the adoption of this technology include serious security threats, vulnerability to data loss, and data leakage or theft in Wi-Fi networks.

The deployment of Li-Fi in the defense sector will ensure the safety of the information being transmitted as well as stored. Besides security, the technology also ensures the stability of the connection to avoid data loss and is expected to gain widespread popularity due to the advantages that come with this feature.

More and more companies are realizing the potential of Li-Fi and investing resources into product research and development. Although it is not yet widely available to the public, the technology is developing and it is only a matter of time before it becomes more prevalent in our daily lives.

Furthermore, reports suggest that Apple may create future iPhones that are capable of integrating Li-Fi technology. Accordingly, some evidence shows that in the source code of Apple’s iOS version 9.1 operating system, there are references to Li-Fi technology written as “LiFiCapability”, implying that Apple may integrate Li-Fi with future iPhones.

In short, Li-Fi’s unique approach to wireless communications could offer a significant improvement over traditional radio-based technology. With faster transmission speeds, greater security, and the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with technology, Li-Fi is a promising innovation that could change the way we connect to the Internet./.