Sci/Tech

Introducing Li-Fi, a LED Light-Powered Technology That Is 100 Times Faster Than Wi-Fi! Amazing!

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9 years ago

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Nov 28, 2015 08:12pm EST

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Inah Garcia

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Wi-fi has done tremendous things to humanity. It has enabled people from all over the world to stay connected, entertained and informed 24/7. However, we have to admit that it has its drawbacks. For one, some telecom providers charge skyrocket amount for Wi-fi services. Sometimes, we also have to deal with poor connection and the likes.

Now, Wi-fi finally got itself a competitor in a new technology discovered called Li-fi.

Li-fi utilizes visible spectrum instead of radio waves. It boasts a speed 100 times faster than the conventional Wi-fi such that it can offer 1Gbps (gigabit per second).

So just how can we have access to this amazing discovery? Well, experts said the system requires three main tools: an Internet connection, a photo detector and a standard LED bulb.

Take a look at that very simple, anything-but-complicated setup of Li-fi.

Photo credit: Peter Tuffy/The University of Edinburgh

In an experimental trial, experts from Estonian start-up company Velmenni, used a Li-fi enabled light bulb to transfer data. As per testings, the system was able to generate up to 224Gbps! Wow!

The system was tested in an office setting, where people have access to the Internet. True enough, it was able to provide smart lighting solutions.

The term “li-fi” was first used by Prof Harald Haas from Edinburgh University. In 2011, during his Technology, Entertainment and Design (TED) talk, he demonstrated how a LED lamp was able to stream a video. He even predicted that in the future, billions of light bulbs could possibly become wireless hotspots.

Another good thing about Li-fi is that it does not disrupt with other radio signals so it can be used while flying in an aircraft or in places where conflicts are usually noted.

Despite the seemingly flawless features of Li-fi, of course it has a set of drawbacks. First, it cannot be used under direct sunlight due to signal issues and second, the technology cannot pass through walls thus, limiting its initial usage.

In an interview with International Business Times UK, Velmenni chief executive Deepak Solanki projects that the technology will most probably be available in the market within three to four years.

Credit: BBC