LiFi WiFi

LiFi is expected to complement rather than replace WiFi

09:00 11 August 2017

WiFi is arguably the best and most useful invention that mankind has even seen so far. The majority of households from around the world take advantage of it while businesses invest heavily in it as it boosts productivity.

 

However, WiFi, regardless of its usefulness, has certain weaknesses that pull back users. It does not travel through walls, it is notoriously insecure, and it is vulnerable to hackers.  

 

WiFi’s shortcomings is expected to be addressed by LiFi or light Fidelity, an emerging wireless protocol that uses visible light spectrum to provide wireless networking access. A LiFi transmitter uses LED lights to modulate light intensity.

 

LiFi, which is expected to complement rather than replace WiFi, is created by IEEE, which now considers it inclusion with the 802.11 WiFi standard. The company said: "The introduction of light emitting diodes (LED) for general purpose lighting has created a growing interest in using the visible light spectrum for wireless communications."

 

Will Stofega, program manager for mobile device technology and trends at IDC, says that it could pose a challenge.

 

"Getting any standard approved is tough," he says. "There is always an ecosystem and political interests to play out. I think overall it needs a lot of work, but it’s the most promising of the alternative connection technologies."