Li-Fi vs iBeacon (BLE) Technology

Of recent, Li-Fi has been a buzzword, given the claims of it being 100 times faster thanWi-Fi and something that could possibly revolutionise IoT. While the technology is still in its trial stage, businesses and technology experts are eagerly comparing it with other location based technologies like iBeacon. Meanwhile, they are also busy exploring various aspects of Li-Fi to understand if it would be worth investing in it.

Since most of the information on Li-Fi and the technology involved is scattered all over the internet, there is much ambiguity surrounding its working, usage, and so on. With multiple questions and doubts prevalent around Li-Fi, we bring you this post that aims at answering frequently asked questions about this relatively new technology and where it stands against beacons.

1)  What is Li-Fi?

Li-Fi, an abbreviation for Light Fidelity, refers to a new wireless form of Visible Light Communication (VLC) technology which delivers high-speed, bidirectional, networked mobile communications by using light from light-emitting diodes (LEDs) instead of radio waves as in the case of Wi-Fi. It transmits binary data in the form of light streams and thus is a subset of Optical Wireless Communication (OWC) which refers to all types of optical communications where cables (optical fibres) are not used.



Image source: visiblelightcomm.com

2) When did Li-Fi originate?

The term ‘Li-Fi’ was coined by German Physicist Harald Haas and introduced by him during his 2011 TED Talk. It was here that he first demonstrated how light from an LED bulb could transmit more data than a cellular tower.
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3) What is VLC technology?

Visible Light Communication technology is an optical wireless data communications medium which uses visible light between 400 and 800 THz (780–375 nm) to transmit binary data in the form of light pulses. This data transmission is both ambient and detectable by other LEDs that act as photodiodes. So, in brief, VLC technology provides for both communication and illumination.
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4) How does Li-Fi work?

Li-Fi uses light from light-emitting diodes as a medium to deliver networked, mobile, high-speed communication. Data is transmitted by modulating the intensity of the light at nanosecond intervals which is too quick to be detected by the human eye. This data is then received by a photosensitive detector. Thereafter, the light signal is demodulated into electronic form.


Image source: phys.org

5) Does Li-Fi work only with light of a specific wavelength and frequency?

Yes, Li-Fi uses visible light band, between 400 and 800 THz (780–375 nm), of the electromagnetic spectrum to transmit data.

Image source: wikipedia.com

In other words, Li-Fi is a VLC technology, which is different from FSO (Free Space Optical) communication. While the former is constrained to visible light, the latter includes ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) waves as well. FSO communication often uses laser diodes rather than LEDs for the transmission, since illumination is not a primary requirement for it.

6) What hardware does Li-Fi require to function?

Li-Fi requires three basic hardware devices to function. These include:

(i) an LED lighting system

(ii) a router (which will be installed along with the lighting system)

(iii) a receiver equipped with decoder (in order to decrypt the light signal)
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7) Does Li-Fi require special LEDs?

Li-Fi can work with the existing LED devices which are currently being manufactured and sold based on their performance for illumination purposes. However, it is possible that once Li-Fi technology gains popularity, specialist LEDs which are built with Li-Fi performance as a key aspect will become a part of the LED industry.
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8) Can LEDs be used to send data to any smartphone? Is Li-Fi uni-directional – can it receive data as well?

Yes, LEDs can be used to send binary data to any receiver (including smartphones), that is equipped with decoder, and in the range of the LED device. Once the light signal is decoded, it may trigger certain actions (such as a product video) upon its communication with a mobile app. Though Li-Fi is not unidirectional, i.e. it can both transmit and receive data, LEDs can currently only be used to transmit data due to feasibility and cost issues involved.

9) What is the range of a Li-Fi LED?

The range of a Li-Fi LED can vary depending on the strength of the light which is being emitted by the LED.

10) Does sunlight interfere with the reception?

Yes, however it is relatively simple to eliminate the majority of interference from natural and artificial sources through optical filters.

11) How is iBeacon technology different from Li-Fi?

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12) Does Li-Fi provide an alternative to beacons?

Both the technologies are different and thus their use-cases vary. Therefore, one cannot replace the other. Here are a few reasons whyLi-Fi cannot be used as an alternative to beacons:

a) When it comes to outdoor use-cases, interference from sunlight prevents one from employing Li-Fi solutions. However, this interference can be controlled in indoor use-cases through proper optical filters. Beacons, on the other hand, can be used without any such natural interference.

b) For successful data transmission, you would need to have your smartphone out of your pocket all the time in the case of Li-Fi. Beacons, on the other hand, can interact with your smartphone without any such restriction since they employ BLE.

c) One of the biggest drawbacks of Li-Fi is that it requires light to be switched on all the time to deliver connectivity. While it would not be an issue in industrial and retail environments, it would be both environmentally and practically problematic in domestic settings. You will have to keep the lights on for it to work, irrespective of the time of the day.
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There are more questions specific to Li-Fi that need attention. So, watch this space! We will soon have a follow-up post that would talk about some more concerns around Li-Fi, where it stands against Wi-Fi, and future implementations. If you have any specific questions on Li-Fi in mind, please share them in the comments below. I’ll be more than happy to discuss them in the next post.

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• Author Details

Author Details

Shubhi Mittal

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