Over the last year there have been several reports within the scientific community and more recently in the commercial telecommunications industry, detailing the future possibility of delivering connectivity via infrared rays instead of radio waves.
In this article, we explore the science behind how these light-driven networks could work, as well as how it will differ from conventional and when we can expect to see it rolled out (if at all).
How would it work?
With standard WiFi, users are able to connect to ‘hotspots’, where data is sent using radio waves via a wireless router. New light-based technology would work in a very similar way, in that central ‘antennas’ would connect directly to the network with optical fibres. However, instead of radio waves the antennas would emit rays of infrared light. These could be ceiling or wall mounted for best connectivity, or even placed on a desktop within commercial environments.
A pair of gratings will be housed within the antennas, and would radiate rays of light of multiple wavelengths and at different angles to spread the connectivity area.
One of the most impressive details of new light-based connectivity is that the capacity of a single ray of light is more than 40Gbit/s.
It all sounds great but there’s a problem, what about walls?
One of the reasons current WiFi technology is so popular is because the radio waves that carry the data can travel through most objects, meaning that moving around within a hotspot isn’t a major issue when you are using the network. However, infrared light cannot pass through most everyday objects. Instead they spread out on impact. So how could this technology possibly be viable in busy, built-up environments like cafes, shopping centres, offices or on the move?
Well, rather than with WiFi routers, proposed setup of LiFi technology would need to include antennas in multiple locations, so that when a user moves out of the line of sight another could take over. The user’s device would automatically and simultaneously connect and disconnect to each antenna as they pass through the environment. There would be no interference and the user wouldn’t notice a ‘dip’ in connectivity.
Financial and environmental costs
