Unsatisfied with your Wi-Fi? Explore LiFi for quicker internet speeds. pureLiFi, based in the UK, unveiled this innovation at Mobile World Congress 2024 in Barcelona. This technology utilizes light for wireless communication and complements existing Wi-Fi networks. Users can enjoy low latency and congestion-free experiences in gaming, video conferencing, and media streaming without the bandwidth struggles associated with Wi-Fi.
Unlike conventional wireless technologies like Wi-Fi and 5G, LiFi communicates wirelessly using light, bypassing common limitations such as buffering, congestion, and vulnerable signals.
“Just like Wi-Fi access points people have, LiFi is also plug-and-play. People can plug into a network, and within a few seconds, you have LiFi,” stated Ron Schaeffer, Chief Strategy Officer at pureLiFi.
“Importantly, it is not subject to congestion like Wi-Fi is. Everyone connected to LiFi will have full bandwidth. For instance, if you are watching a video, someone is on a video call, and another person is playing a VR game, you all are competing with each other for Wi-Fi bandwidth. With LiFi, everyone has their own bandwidth. You can transition from Wi-Fi to LiFi, and the internet experience improves because it is less congested. So, we say LiFi makes Wi-Fi better,” Schaeffer shared with Khaleej Times in an interview during MWC 2024.
Listed in CES 2024 Tech Trends to Watch, LiFi marks a significant advancement in utilizing light instead of radio frequencies for wireless communications.
The LiFi device can transmit and receive 1GB of data per second in each direction, covering an area of 50 square meters (540 square feet), which is nearly the size of an entire room.
“Since LiFi doesn’t pass through walls, individuals will need a LiFi device in each room of their house. Additionally, it enhances security. Someone could potentially eavesdrop on your network if they are skilled enough. However, since LiFi doesn’t penetrate walls, security breaches are avoided. Therefore, our primary customer is the US Army,” Schaeffer mentioned during the interview.
The company intends to collaborate with telecom service providers to distribute the devices, which will be installed in the homes and offices of subscribers.
Looking ahead, Schaeffer firmly believes that LiFi represents the future of internet connectivity.
“The reason is that the radio spectrum is extremely congested, and it’s becoming even more congested with each passing day. It’s estimated to be growing at a rate of 40 percent per year. To put that into perspective, just a couple of years ago, if traffic could fit into two lanes on a highway, by 2030, it would require over 100 lanes. However, light is entirely uncongested and offers 2,600 times more spectrum availability than all of radio,” he added.
“We are thrilled to introduce products that address both current and future connectivity challenges. LiFi is poised to enhance and expand existing wireless technologies, heralding a new era of bandwidth, speed, and reliable communications,” said Alistair Banham, CEO of pureLiFi.
Furthermore, pureLiFi is launching the world’s first commercial light antennas—the optoelectronic components essential for LiFi—designed for various devices, ranging from industrial to consumer, and from smart cars to smartphones.
