'Li-fi 100 times faster than wi-fi' test reveals

A recent means of delivering data,that makes use of the visible spectrum rather than radio waves, has been tested in a working office.

Li-fi is able to deliver internet access 100 times more faster than traditional wi-fi, with speed of 1Gbps (gigabit per second).

It needs a  source of light, just like a standard LED bulb,internet connection and a light sensitive photo detector.
It was tested by Estonian start-up Velmenni, in Tallinn.

Velmenni used a li-fi  fitted light bulb to send data at speeds of 1Gbps. Laboratory tests have indicated theoretical speeds up to 224Gbps.

It was tested in an office, to allow workers access the internet and in an industrial space, where it provided a smart lighting solution.


Speaking to the International Business Times, chief executive Deepak Solanki said that the technology would reach consumers "within three to four years".

The term li-fi was coined by Prof Harald Haas from Edinburgh University, who demonstrated the technology at a Ted (Technology, Entertainment and Design) conference in 2011.

His speech, which has now been viewed nearly two million times, showed an LED lamp streaming video.
Prof Haas described a future when billions of light bulbs could act as wireless hotspots.

One of the main advantage of li-fi is that, unlike wi-fi, it does not interfere with other radio signals, so it could be used in aircraft and in other places where interference is a major problem.

While the spectrum for radio waves is not scarce, the visible light spectrum is 10,000 times larger,so it is unlikely to run out any time soon.
But the technology also has its setbacks - most known is the fact that it cannot be deployed outdoors in direct sunlight, because that would interfere with its signal.

Neither can the technology penetrate walls so its initial use is limited to places where it can be used to supplement wi-fi networks, such as in congested urban areas or places where wi-fi is not secure, such as hospitals