Document Number:

AVBIH/DEC/2015/002

Birla Management Center Services Limited

Group Information Technology

Document Date:
December 11, 2015

Document Title:
LiFi The next generation WiFi

Li-Fi The next generation WiFi

1 | Page

Document Version
1.0

Document Number:
AVBIH/DEC/2015/002

Birla Management Center Services Limited

Group Information Technology

Document Date:
December 11, 2015

Document Title:
LiFi The next generation WiFi

Document Version
1.0

Introduction to Light-Fidelity (Li-Fi)

The only constant in the technology industry is change. As technology keeps evolving, each new
technological advancement brings with it enormous benefits in terms of performance, efficiency, cost
reductions and higher availability.
Li-Fi or Visible Light Communication (VLC) is the latest buzzword in the data communications
domain which is a giant leap in the way data is transmitted from one end point to another. While
researchers are devising newer standards in order to improve the speed of transmission and efficiency
of WiFi communication, factors like electromagnetic interference, signal attenuation and receiver
limitations limit the transmission speeds beyond a certain point.
Researchers working on VLC (Visible Light Communication), on the other hand, are promoting the
usage of visible light for data transmission and are trying to establish consistent standards worldwide
for the successful adoption of the technology.

What is Li-Fi?

Li-Fi is a data communications medium which uses visible light between 400 and 800 THz for data
transmission. VLC is a subset of optical wireless communications technologies.

VLC can be used as a communications medium which is always available, because light-producing
devices (such as indoor/outdoor lamps, TVs, traffic signs, commercial displays and car
headlights/taillights) are used everywhere. Using visible light is also causes lesser health hazards for
high-power applications because it no longer uses electromagnetic waves for communication.
2 | Page

Document Number:
AVBIH/DEC/2015/002

Birla Management Center Services Limited

Group Information Technology

Document Date:
December 11, 2015

Document Title:
LiFi The next generation WiFi

Document Version
1.0

VLC uses standard off-the-shelf visible light LED luminaires to transmit broadband data streams. This
transmission technology can be used for both distribution of high-definition video streaming as well
as two-way communication covering the whole rage from internet access to video conferencing.

Thus, in the case of Li-Fi (Light-fidelity, a term used synonymous to Wi-Fi) information hitches a ride
along a spectrum of visible light. Light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs transmit data when they are
switched on and off so rapidly in nanoseconds, that the human eye cannot see it. This data is
registered by special equipment, making it possible to provide wireless Internet connectivity at a
current experimental speed up to 10 Tbps, which is estimated to be 250 times faster than 'superfast'
broadband. The vast availability of LED light bulbs boost the way connectivity is provided to endpoints
even in places where Wi-Fi fails to deliver, for e.g. on an airplane or in submarines.

Advantages

Li-Fi is zero electromagnetic interference, allowing connectivity even in areas where Wi-Fi isnt
accepted - hospitals and nuclear plants among others. In addition, Li-Fi offers better data defense as
light waves cant pass through walls, making it impossible to hack any internal systems in high-security
buildings.It is so far measured to be about 100 times faster than Wi-Fi, reaching speeds of 224
gigabits per second

Not affected by EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) the systems can work where WiFi
cannot
Secure Signals cannot pass through walls making rooms or buildings completely immune
from

3 | Page

Document Number:
AVBIH/DEC/2015/002

Birla Management Center Services Limited

Group Information Technology

Document Date:
December 11, 2015

Document Title:
LiFi The next generation WiFi

Document Version
1.0

unauthorized signal reception

None of the health risks associated with WiFi or laser based systems Since they do not rely
on
The part of the electromagnetic spectrum that has, in some studies, shown an adverse effect
on
human health, they are completely safe to humans in any system
These systems can be designed to operate with existing WiFi infrastructure
The available bandwidth is well in excess of that available in RF systems, on the order of 100
Terahertz (1 THz = 1012 Hz).
With proper design, VLC can provide oneway communication to mobile platforms and
handheld devices
Can provide highly accurate position information
Implementation is not constrained by government regulations

Current State of the Technology

VLC has been successfully tested in the lab environment and has successfully showed speeds of close
to 10Tbps. However, the biggest challenge that the researchers are currently facing is devising a
standard and protocol around the technology. This will also need collaboration with the major LED
manufacturers around the world for implementing the standard in order to make this technology a
commercial success and available readily to the end users. Currently it is estimated that VLC
technology will have a market worth of approximately 6 billion US dollars by the year 2018.

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