The use of the Internet has changed the way we communicate, we do things on a daily basis, connect with the people we love, and the way we transact. With just a few clicks, we can make payments, go online shopping, send a message, binge on a movie, or do research all in the comforts of our own homes.
This is how powerful the Internet age is. The fast-paced digital world and the information technologies we currently have helped in the elaboration of fundamental changes throughout our society. This includes business, government, healthcare, education, research and development, and so much more.
Judging by the numbers presented by Statista, it is safe to presume that the growing need for wireless connection is unstoppable and will continue to increase in number exponentially for the years to come. The stats presented that from 2000 to 2020, there are already 120 million households with fixed Internet subscriptions.
The question is, can our current wireless system – WiFi – keep up with this ever-soaring demand?
In 2011, Professor and German Physicist Harald Haas of the University of Edinburgh demonstrated LiFi technology and its ability to surpass what WiFi can offer today. He was once the co-founder of PureVLC (now called pureLiFi) in 2012. His focus has always been on Mobile Communications.
LiFi Vs. WiFi
LiFi technology is similar to how WiFi works, but the main difference is that LiFi uses light to transmit data instead of radio waves.
LiFi, or Light Fidelity, is a bidirectional wireless system that has the ability to multiply the speed and bandwidth of WiFi over a hundred times faster.
How does it work? Its signal works by switching bulbs on and off (modulations and pulses) at an incredibly quick pace that cannot be noticed by the human eye. Imagine a super-speed morse code. That’s basically how it transmits information. The signal will then be decoded as the data.
While WiFi currently works for all of us, the rise in demand for wireless connection in the coming years can lead to oversaturation. LiFi is seen to mitigate these limitations and provide a wider, better, faster, more secure, more efficient, and safer connectivity for everyone.
WiFi uses radio waves to send and receive information and with the increasing consumption of wireless data, the radiofrequency space is becoming saturated which can lead to interference and a phenomenon called spectrum crunch.
When it happens, it could no longer support the growing number of user devices. This is a real challenge for our current connection.
LiFi is also sustainable and more efficient. It only uses a light source to be functional and does not need routers, circuits, and/or complex receivers. Light travels extremely fast and experts say LiFi has a potential speed of 224 Gbps. That is equivalent to 28 1GB movies of download in just one second.
Let’s see the comparison of LiFi and WiFi.
Speed
- LiFi: Greater than 1Gbps (Potential Top Speed: 224Gbps)
- WiFi: 700 Mbps (in WiFi 6)
Transfer Medium:
- LiFi: LED lightbulbs
- WiFi: Radio waves
Spectrum Range:
- LiFi: Visible light spectrum (10,000 times more spectrum than radio frequency spectrum)
- WiFi: Radio frequency spectrum (scarce when compared with visible light spectrum)
Operating Frequency:
- LiFi: 100 Terra Hz
- WiFi: 2.4Hz, 4.9GHz, 5GHz
Cost:
- LiFi: Much cheaper (no routers, no other circuits needed, and just uses light bulb as source)
- WiFi: Very expensive as radio frequencies are licensed and limited.
Security/Privacy:
- LiFi: Light can be contained in a room and blocked by walls. Data transfer is more secure.
- WiFi: RF signals can pass through the walls and needs the employment of applications to secure data transfers.
Ecological Impact:
- LiFi: Low impact. It is more sustainable. It is based on LEDs only and does not emit harmful radiation.
- WiFi: Medium impact. It comes with harmful radiation.
