Wi-Fi or Wireless Fidelity has changed the way Internet is accessed all over the world.This High Speed Wireless technology has allowed people around the world communicate via Internet.
But, now scientists from Estonia developed a technology that is 100 times faster than Wi-Fi. Seems unbelievable, right?. A company named Velmenni, based in Tallinn, Estonia, has developed a new internet providing service termed as Li-Fi or Light Fidelity.
What is Li-Fi technology?
Li-Fi technology is a ground-breaking light-based communication technology, which makes use of light waves instead of radio technology to deliver data. It uses Light Emitting Diodes (LED) to transfer signals from the router to the end user device at a speed of 1 gbps (Gigabytes per second).
Here are some points about Li-Fi you must know :
- The Li-Fi technology provides 100 times faster Internet than Wi-Fi. It allows speed up to 224 gbps.
- It requires an LED light source, an internet connection and a photodetector to spread the signals.
- The infrared beams of a remote control encode signals in light pulses and can transmit around 1,000 bits per second. On the other hand, an LED bulb can transmit signals at a speed of 1,000,000,000 bits per second.
- The Li-Fi does not interfere with other radio signals such as broadband and Wi-Fi. Hence, it can be used on aero planes as well. So, no more flight mode.
- The Li-Fi cannot be used outside the house in daylight, as the sunlight would interfere with the LED signals. Besides, it cannot penetrate through walls like Wi-Fi does, hence, the user needs to be in close proximity of the LED source to get uninterrupted signal.
Features of Li-Fi :
- Light is already used for data transmission in fiber-optic cables and for point to point links, but Li-Fi is a special and novel combination of technologies that allow it to be universally adopted for mobile ultra high speed internet communications.
- Li-Fi technology is being developed into a ubiquitous systems technology, consisting of application specific combinations of light transmitters, light receivers including solar cells, efficient computational algorithms and networking capabilities that can be deployed in a wide range of communication scenarios and in a variety of device platforms.
- In Future, Li-Fi technology will be faster, more reliable internet connection, though the demand for data usage has peaked the top from existing technologies such as 4G, LTE and Wi-Fi. It will not replace these technologies, but will work seamlessly alongside them.
- The wide use of solid state lighting offers an opportunity for efficient dual use lighting and communication systems.
Pros of Li-Fi :
The benefits of Li-Fi emerge as a result of unlocking the vast amount of license-free and secure electromagnetic spectrum that lies in the infrared and visible light regions.
The key benefits are :
- Li-Fi technology can transmit data and unlock capacity which is 10,000 times greater than that available within the radio spectrum.
- Enhanced wireless infrastructures by providing an additional layer of small cells (‘attocells’).
- Li-Fi Technology can be used in environments such as aircraft cabins, hospitals and hazardous environments that do not support Wi-Fi.
- Enhanced energy-efficiency by combining data communication and illumination.
- Complete elimination of health concerns.
Cons of Li-Fi :
- It only works if a smartphone or other device is placed directly in the light.
- Most importantly, visible light can’t travel through walls the way radio waves can like you either have to have an open floor plan or set-up Li-Fi as a complement to your existing Wi-Fi set-up. Similarly, you can block a Li-Fi connection just by putting something solid (like a book) in front of the transmitting light bulb.
- Li-Fi also doesn’t work outside in direct daylight since any light signals would be washed out by the overpowering light coming from the sun.
- Li-Fi also requires that devices be equipped with additional technology such as a card reader, or dongle, to function. This gives it a “cost disadvantage”.
Conclusion:
Regardless , even as a complement to regular wireless Internet connections, Li-Fi sounds like it could become a useful tool , if it ever goes mainstream.