LiFI: Internet Through Bulbs

What is LiFi?

LiFi that stands for Light Fidelity is a new wireless method of delivering data and two-way communication which uses visible light spectrum via LED bulbs instead of radio waves to transmit data. It was invented in 2011 by Professor Harald Haas , from the University of Edinburgh in the UK who demonstrated the technology at TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) Global conference in 2011.

It is  now considered as the next generation of wireless transmission. It delivers internet access speed upto 100 times faster than traditional WiFi, offering internet speed of 1 Gbps (Gigabits per second). It has been recently put outside the lab practically where internet speed indeed reached 1 Gbps.

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Lifi is now at International Standards. The company, called Velmenni, is already working on its several pilot projects and the company hopes the trials will lead to a consumer roll out over the next three to four years hoping certainly to be the year 2020. 

LiFi has already developed product called Li-1st which offers two-way communication with 11.5 Mbps down-link and up-link speeds of up to three meters.

Unlike WiFi, LiFi does not interferes with other radio signals. While WiFi has finite amount radio wave spectrum, LiFi  carries visible Light Spectrum which is 10,000 times larger than WiFi. LiFi could also be the solution to create billion wireless hotspots using the LED bulbs.

It has some drawbacks and limits as well. LiFi can be blocked if placed a solid object in front of the LED bulb. In the same way, it cannot be transfered from one room to another in the house as light waves which carry signals do not crawl on wall like radio waves do and  therefore get blocked. Also in the presence of sunlight during daytime,  the signals do not work properly as sunlight would interfere with LED lights and weaken the strength and capacity of LED bulb.

Despite having some drawbacks, LiFi is the best method to tramit data via wireless and it can prove to be one the most reliable methods in the future. Till then we can only hope the company finds some solution and releases the product very soon.