Li-Fi vs Wi-Fi: Could this bleeding-edge tech make your next router as fast as light?

[Windows Central]

Li-Fi tech could propel wireless networking to unprecedented speeds as fast as light, thanks to a new standard set by the IEEE.

Li-Fi vs Wi-Fi: Could this bleeding-edge tech make your next router as fast as light? : Read more

 

[jdrison]

I remember doing research on this when I was in undergrad...15 years ago. There were some significant hurdles to this concept which, unless physics has changed, cannot be solved. The concept is most interesting for backhaul, however, even when your transmissions are LOS atmospheric conditions play a significant impact. Rain, fog, even wind plays a factor since these beams need to be perfectly aligned.

In my current research, we are looking at sub-THz wireless (around 700GHz), and even there you have significant complications when dealing with atmospheric. Fiber transmits in the ~300THz range (3 orders of magnitude higher) which makes things exponentially harder.

 

[Ben Wilson]

The whole concept is really fascinating, but it does seem too good to be true. I'm hoping some product demos at whatever technology conventions might convince me in person, but I'm still skeptical.

Interference, especially. Makes me wonder if they even COULD demo this tech on a showroom floor.

 

[RoguePine]

it's a good concept with potential but there's a point. in Wi-Fi you can be anywhere in the house or even outside the house in backyard or front door with only one single router and have internet access. considering you have mesh devices, it makes your connection even better. but for Li-Fi, as I found in this article you need multiple light source things directly above you depending on where you need your internet which is a barrier and sacrificing portability for speed. I'm not an expert but Wi-Fi's signal health issues aside, I think if Wi-Fi could catch the speed of Li-Fi it's much more comfortable and easier to use

 

[naddy69]

LOL. “Li-Fi tech could propel wireless networking to unprecedented speeds as fast as light”.

Radio is the same speed as light. Radio and light are the same thing, just different frequencies. Both are electromagnetic waves.

If it needs to be in every light fixture over you head - because light does NOT go through walls and such - then this is already WAY behind Wi-Fi.

Think about TV remotes. If you have to point the remote directly at the TV, then it is using light. If you can point it anywhere and it still works, then it is radio.

 

[TheFerrango]

IrDA is alive again