LiFi has been around for a while, but it has not yet achieved the same level of household recognition as Wi-Fi. This may change now that it has an industry standard.
LiFi, short for “Light Fidelity,” is a Visible Light Communications system that transmits wireless internet communications at incredibly high speeds. The technology works by using LED light bulbs to emit light pulses that are invisible to the human eye. Within those pulses, data can travel to and from receivers. Once received, the data is collected and interpreted by the receivers. This process is similar to decoding Morse code, but it operates at a much faster rate – millions of times per second.
With LiFi, transmission speeds can exceed 100 Gbps, making it over 14 times faster than WiGig, also known as the world’s fastest WiFi. This breakthrough in wireless connectivity can revolutionize how we access and use the internet, enabling faster and more efficient communication for a wide range of applications.
Evan Selleck for AppleInsider:
While Apple may or may not do anything with LiFi, the industry around it has something to celebrate. On July 12, global LiFi technology firms Fraunhofer HHI and pureLiFi helped usher in the release of IEEE 802.11bb.
With this newly recognized framework, it is a standard that can sit comfortably next to IEEE 802.11 WiFi.
The IEEE 802.11bb standard defines a couple of different things. First, system architectures, and second, physical layer specifications for wireless communication that utilizes light waves instead of radio frequencies… LiFi is designed to offer up even faster data transmissions, along with even more reliable connections and better security than existing wireless technologies like WiFi.
MacDailyNews Note: Find out more about LiFi, wireless data from every light bulb, here.
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I’m confused. If this is a light-transmitted data-stream, doesn’t each and every node require a literal line-of-sight? I work in my living-room, and sometimes out in the gazebo on my rear deck. The former requires two corners to be turned and the latter travels thru direct sunlight. Am I correct in assuming this will not be considered a mass-market product or did I miss something?
Thanks I was thinking the same, probably explains why we haven’t heard of it before. I presume it has somewhat limited use but where it can be utilised will offer great advantages but as you say probably not as things stand for general consumer use.
Yes, LiFi requires clear line-of-sight. Not even any lightly frosted glass can be in the way.
It requires lights that are LEDs that can handle the speed required and at the right frequencies (wavelengths). Your typical LED home lighting units absolutely will not suffice so don’t think your lights at home or in the office will work for this. Further, it takes either a WiFi or wired connection to those WiFi LEDs. Each room needs to get that information stream from somewhere to each room in which WiFi will be utilized.
I would be happy if Apple would just make AppleTVs and HomePods into Wifi repeaters/range extenders.