Wireless Providers May See the Light

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A new wireless protocol is expected to solve many of the problems associated with WiFi, as well as operate up to 100 times faster. Working in conjunction with WiFi, Light Fidelity can provide wireless access by using visible light spectrum. Coined LiFi, the technology features LED lights that are installed in transmitters and can modulate light intensity, which is interpreted as data by photosensitive receivers.

Network World says these lights can modulate up to millions of times per second, increasing the potential data speeds over similar wireless networks. Currently, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) is debating whether LiFi should be added to the 802.11 WiFi standard, even though proponents of WiFi will probably fight adamantly against it.

LiFi operates with several weaknesses and strengths. Although transmission speeds are incredibly fast, LiFi’s range is extremely short – perhaps only a few feet in some instances. This weakness can be circumvented with redundancy. For example, buildings can be equipped with LiFi light bulbs which will expand wireless coverage wherever the lights are on. In addition, visible light operates on a completely different spectrum than existing RF spectrum, which means there will be no signal interference from bands currently in use. Finally, LiFi is cheap to install on mobile devices. The technology uses existing cameras to send and receive light, and only an extra decoder chip is necessary to interpret light signals into data.

Professor Harald Haas, co-founder and chief scientific officer of pureLi-Fi Ltd, and a professor at the University of Edinburgh, introduced LiFi in 2011. He states, the technology is not meant to replace 5G or WiFi, but can be used as a supplement. “I can see it being used in streetlights as access points for smart city applications,” he explained. Since most carriers are focused on implementing 5G, LiFi is a relatively overlooked technology that may prove useful soon.

Published August 14, 2017

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