Asian Scientist (Oct. 22, 2013) – Netizens in China may soon be able to get online through signals sent through light (LiFi), instead of WiFi, as reported by the state-run Xinhua news agency.
According to the report, Chinese scientists have successfully connected four computers to the Internet through a one-watt LED lightbulb that uses light as a carrier, instead of traditional radio frequencies that WiFi depends on.
A lightbulb with embedded microchips can produce data rates as fast as 150 megabits per second, which is speedier than the average broadband connection in China, said Professor Chi Nan from Shanghai’s Fudan University, who leads a LiFi research team.
With LiFi being cost-effective as well as efficient, it is expected that there will be great interest in the 10 sample LiFi kits on display at the China International Industry Fair that will kick off on November 5 in Shanghai.
According to Chi, current wireless signal transmission equipment is expensive and low in efficiency.
“Millions of base stations (for cell phones) have been established around the world to strengthen the signal but most of the energy is consumed on their cooling systems,” she explained. “The energy utilization rate is only five percent.”
Compared with base stations, the number of lightbulbs that can be used is practically limitless. Meanwhile, Chinese people are rapidly replacing old incandescent bulbs with LED lightbulbs.
“Wherever there is an LED lightbulb, there is an Internet signal,” said Chi. “Turn off the light and there is no signal.”
However, there is still a long way to go before LiFi can be commercially viable, he says.
“If the light is blocked, then the signal will be cut off,” said Chi.
More importantly, the development of a series of key related pieces of technology, including light communication controls as well as microchip design and manufacturing, is still in the experimental stage.
The term LiFi was coined by Harald Haas from the University of Edinburgh in the UK and refers to a type of visible light communication technology that delivers a networked, mobile, high-speed communication solution in a similar manner as WiFi.
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Copyright: Asian Scientist Magazine; Photo: Tony Webster/Flickr/CC.
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