Light-Based Li-Fi: Faster Than Wi-Fi, But Still Limited

The next big thing in wireless connectivity could rely on something as fragile as a light bulb.

A light-based Internet technology known as Li-Fi has been kicking around for a few years. But as reported by the International Business Times, Estonian start-up Vilmenni just recently used a Li-Fi-enabled light bulb to transmit data at speeds up to 1 gigabit per second, or 100 times faster than current Wi-Fi technology.

Velmenni's test used its Jugnu smart LED bulbs to transfer data through visible light. In a video demo (below), Deepak Solanki, CEO of Velmenni, holds up a wireless device in front of a light. It quickly starts to stream video or toggle through a stream of videos without any lag. But when Solanki holds his hand in front of the device, blocking the signal, the connection is broken. 

And therein lies the dilemma with Li-Fi. It cannot travel through walls like traditional Wi-Fi, so it could not replace your home's existing network. It could also get pricey with lights blazing at all times.

Li-Fi dates back several years, when University of Edinburgh professor of mobile communications Harald Haas gave a TED Talk about the technology (embedded below). Three years ago, Haas founded pureLiFi, which last week inked a deal with French firm Lucibel to integrate its Li-Fi technology into a new device expected in the second half of 2016.

As Haas explains in the video below, Li-Fi's limitations might actually be good for security. If the signal cannot travel through walls, it can be contained in one room, with people in offices, for example, powering their devices via the overhead lights. But lights in a kitchen could keep that Internet-connected coffee maker brewing or fridge LED updated.

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Li-Fi could also serve as just another connection point. Today, smartphones skip from cellular to Wi-Fi, depending on which connection is best, but in the future, Li-Fi could be part of that mix, too.

IBT said lab tests show the technology could theoretically reach speeds of 224 Gbps. At that rate, you could download high-definition movies to your smartphone in the blink of an eye.