Li-Fi (Light Fidelity) is a wireless communication technology that was unveiled in July 2011 and is credited to Harald Haas, a German-born professor at the University of Edinburgh. Since then, it has attracted attention for its potential to transform the way we connect to the Internet.
This is a technology that tries to be energy efficient and, to do so, uses LED lights that exist in an infrastructure that is already in operation in order to transmit data. Unlike LAN networks, which use radio waves, Li-Fi uses pulses of light that are emitted by LED bulbs and that are imperceptible to the human eye to send information at high speed.
In fact, it is estimated that this technology could complement or even replace Wi-Fi, especially because the more devices are interconnected, the more bandwidth they need and the limitations of networks that operate under radio frequency become more noticeable.
In this sense, Li-Fi could represent an important solution for wireless connectivity. It is still in a very early stage of development, but it is expected to begin to be implemented in industrial applications, smart homes or even in cities towards the end of the decade.
How Li-Fi works
Li-Fi is based on the principle of Visible Light Communication (VLC). This means that the LED light in lamps is modulated very quickly, switching on and off at extremely high speeds.
In this way, light pulses are generated that represent binary data and that can be decoded by a photosensitive receiver housed in the user’s device.
It works in a similar way to Morse code, but in this case it would be much more advanced since Li-Fi, as such, transmits information through light fluctuations.
It is a process that allows transmission speeds to be achieved that can exceed 224 Gbps under optimal conditions. This means that it would be much faster than the maximum speeds that Wi-Fi can achieve because the visible light spectrum of this network can be 10,000 times greater than the radio frequency spectrum used by wireless networks.
Or even other high-speed wireless technologies such as WiGig, since it is capable of supporting more connections simultaneously without having to suffer from saturation, making it ideal for using applications that require a large bandwidth to function correctly.
For example, virtual reality, 4K streaming, or if you play video games and want to have a much faster experience than what an Ethernet or Wi-Fi connection offers when playing online.
You should keep in mind, however, that Li-Fi signals do not have the ability to pass through walls, as Wi-Fi does, which considerably increases security in the data transmission process.
In fact, only devices within the illuminated area receive the signal, thus reducing the possibility of unauthorized access.
Another particularity of this technology is that it does not generate electromagnetic interference. This makes it very useful for sensitive environments such as hospitals or even airplanes, where radio signals can cause interference and damage critical equipment and processes.
Disadvantages of Li-Fi technology
Although Li-Fi technology is a promising solution, it faces a number of drawbacks that may hinder its mass implementation. Firstly, as it is an emerging technology, not all devices are compatible with Li-Fi. Furthermore, its range is strictly limited to the area that is illuminated by the light.
Therefore, in order to use it, you will need to install several light sources, sensors and receivers in the devices to be able to cover very large spaces, but this requires a significant monetary investment.
Similarly, if there are dark conditions or the lights are off, the connection will be interrupted. While it is true that in these cases it is recommended to use infrared light, experts point out that the transmission speed could decrease abruptly when compared to visible light.
