A new and innovative technology is looming on the horizon to transfer data through light, known as “Li-Fi”, and it is 100 times faster than Wi-Fi, which relies on radio waves.
Li-Fi technology, short for Light Fidelity, offers distinct advantages over traditional Wi-Fi technology.
Although it’s still too early to determine its full impact on broadband internet in our homes, it looks like a promising technology.
Research into Li-Fi technology began in the early 2000s, when German physicist Harald Haas and his team pioneered this technology by discovering the ability of light to transmit data in two directions.
How it works
Li-Fi works as a visible light communication system, transmitting data from LEDs that emit light pulses carrying information, just like Morse code.
Although this process is invisible to the naked eye, compatible devices can quickly “decode” the information.
Most importantly, security is another major advantage of Li-Fi technology, as signals are limited to the area illuminated by the light source and cannot penetrate walls, greatly reducing the risk of unauthorized access.
Also, Li-Fi avoids the electromagnetic interference common with Wi-Fi and produces less radiation, making it a safer option for home use.
However, since the technology is still in its early stages, its full impact will not be seen until it is implemented on a larger scale.
It may take a few more years before it becomes mainstream, with it expected to be launched between 2024 and 2029.
Advantages and disadvantages
The growing demand for innovative connectivity solutions, especially in environments where traditional wireless technologies face limitations, is likely to drive more companies to explore and invest in Li-Fi technology in the near future.
Li-Fi provides a frequency of 200,000 GHz, compared to 5 GHz, the maximum limit for Wi-Fi, which enables it to transmit more information per second.
In the same context, a study conducted by Eindhoven University reached a download rate of 42.8 gigabits per second using Li-Fi, while the best Wi-Fi network barely reaches 300 megabits per second.
Despite all of this, Li-Fi technology still faces some drawbacks, such as short range and inability to penetrate walls, which limits its coverage area.
This technology relies on light waves to transmit data, which can be easily blocked by physical obstacles or surrounding light sources, leading to interference problems.
On the cost front, the deployment costs associated with Li-Fi can be much higher than Wi-Fi, due to the need for specialized hardware, such as special LEDs and photodetectors, which can be expensive.
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