LiFi is the future of wireless connectivity

Dubai: Accessing internet at the speed of light is becoming a reality in Dubai by using light-emitting diode bulbs.

People have heard about WiFi but what about LiFi?

WiFi (Wireless Fidelity) is the name of the wireless networking technology that uses radio waves to provide wireless high-speed internet and network connections to smart devices.

LiFi is Light Fidelity, a new wireless technology that transmits high-speed data using light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for data transmission providing for broadcasting information, geolocalisation, geo-marketing, bi-directional communication, networked and high-speed data communication rather than radio bands.

Installed in LED bulbs, the LiFi chip modulates light (imperceptibly) for optical data transmission, in a similar way to WiFi, but with many superior characteristics.

LiFi is presently the buzzword in the communication (internet) industry and the term LiFi was coined by University of Edinburgh Professor Harald Haas during a TED Talk in 2011. Haas envisioned light bulbs that could act as wireless routers.

Right now, LiFi technology is able to increase bandwidth by 100 times and managed to achieve 1Gbps real-world results during testing. It is believed that the technology can yield speeds of more than 10Gbps, allowing an HD film to be downloaded within 30 seconds.

People can watch and download videos at super speed, and browse new websites in a blink. Another advantage is security, as LiFi does not travel between walls the data is more secure. LiFi does not interfere with radio signals and is safe to use in radio frequency sensitive environments such as aircraft, nuclear plants, and oil rigs. It is also safer for environments such as hospitals, medical centres, and schools.

The beauty of this technology is its simplicity. Every LED light bulb could be converted into a wireless router with the addition of a small microchip.

Dubai-based company Zero. 1 has partnered with telecom operator to install 100 street lamps as part of Smart City ambition at Dubai Silicon Oasis by the end of this year.

“Zero. 1’s research and development team have created a platform of LiFi-enabled LED with their IOTA (Intelligent Outdoor Tower Automation) product range which takes the traditional LED street light and adds layers of communications. IOTA changes the way public spaces and resources are managed,” said Marc Fleschen (left), CEO of Zero. 1.

Together with the City. 1 app, he said that it provides experiential and management solutions for public spaces, community places, industrial hubs and commercial plots.

Normally to receive a light signal, you need a light sensor (a small photovoltaic cell) on the phone. But Zero. 1 has managed to use the smartphone’s front and back cameras to receive the signal.

Right now, the latest Apple and Android smartphones can be connected directly using LiFi. iPhone 5S and above, Samsung S6 and above, and LG G4 works and the company is testing other models.

Any private or public lighting, including street lamps, can be used to provide LiFi hotshots and the same communications and sensor infrastructure can be used to monitor and control lighting and data.

“Short range links give very high data-speeds and best possible data security. LiFi driven geo-localisation services allow users to benefit from on-the-spot location and services information.

“We don’t want to change WiFi base stations, and LiFi is a complimentary. In the near future, we will have two different networks. It provides endless possibilities for the internet of Things (IoT), the connection between people and things,” he said.

The WiFi will be used for mobile phones and LiFi for smart devices like coffee machine, smart fridge, etc.

LiFi is good for aeroplanes, operations theatres and can be used underwater without radio interference. There is less risk of data leak as transmission can be blocked by walls.

He said that any LED bulb can be converted by adding a chip. Right now this system is available only for B2B and B2C by 2017.

WiFi has a range of around 50 metres indoors and around 100 metres outdoors while Bluetooth has a range of 10 metres. The range for LiFi depends on the intensity of the light. For street lights, between 20-30 metres and indoors you get two metres.

Fleschen said that LiFi applications will impact multiple sectors such as street lighting, retail, health care, education, museums, and large public venues are in the development stage and are planned to be strategically launched this year.