Beyond Wi-Fi: how Li-Fi is transforming wireless connectivity

Abstract

Professor Harald Haas began his research into VLC (visible light communication) technology, thus paving a way for Li-Fi (light fidelity) technology. This article aims to briefly review the history of Li-Fi and to examine how the usage of electromagnetic waves differs from the radio waves used in Wi-Fi. The study also explores the core mechanisms behind Li-Fi technology, which uses bulbs equipped with a light-emitting diode (LED) and a modulation chip that can transmit the information to photodetectors located in the receiver’s devices for data reception. Furthermore, there are indentified the key performance indicators and constrains of current Li-Fi systems. Notably, the resuts highlight Li-Fi’s capability to achieve extremely high data rates, improved security, and resistance to electromagnetic interference. This makes it more suitable for environments where radio waves can’t penetrate and where security is essential. However, drawbacks, such as limited area coverage and vulnerability to light obstructions remain important, especially when considering this technology as an alternative to Wi-Fi, as this would require a complete replacement of existing Wi-Fi-based infrastructure. Therefore, Li-Fi can serve as a complementary solution alongside existing Wi-Fi. Also, the integration of Li-Fi in current wireless systems can contribute to a more efficient and secure connectivity ecosystem.