Li-Fi, the ground-breaking technology which delivers wireless data communication over the visible light spectrum, has been tested in a real working office and shown to work at speeds of up to 1GB per second.
Li-Fi was first introduced in 2011 by Professor Harald Haas, Chair of Mobile Communications at the University of Edinburgh, and uses LED light bulbs to work. In this latest test, ‘Jugnu’ LED bulbs, developed by Indian start-up Velmenni, were trialled in offices and industrial complexes in Tallinn, Estonia. While the bulbs are still in development, the test stands a leap forward for Li-Fi technology and brings it one step closer to becoming commercially available.
Since its discovery, there has been much buzz around Li-Fi and its possibilities. One idea is to use the technology with solar panels, so that as well as generating electricity, they generate internet connectivity as well.
One advantage of Li-Fi is that it doesn’t interfere with other signals, so could be used in areas where Wi-Fi is currently disallowed. It could also create more secure networks, as the signal cannot travel through walls or outdoors, as the natural light would interrupt the signal.
Li-Fi would also require lights to be constantly on for connectivity to remain, potentially increasing electricity bills and harming the environment. Some scientists argue the environmental impact of the technology would overall be an improvement on current technologies, as less energy would be used overall creating the same connectivity speeds.
