It looks like we are entering a new era in technology as broadband Internet is now possible by way of lights. In fact, a real estate investment company is testing Philips Lighting’s Li-Fi or Light Fidelity technology in its office in Paris, France.
Li-Fi is a two-way, high-speed wireless technology similar to Wi-Fi but uses light waves instead of radio waves to transmit data. Philips Lighting is the first global lighting company to offer Li-Fi-enabled luminaires from its existing office lighting portfolio.
“Li-Fi has enormous potential for today’s digital age and as the world’s leading lighting company we are proud to pioneer new and innovative services for our customers,” said Philips Lighting chief innovation officer Olivia Qiu.
Each luminaire is equipped with a built-in modem that modulates the light at speeds imperceptible to the human eye. The light is detected by a Li-Fi USB key/dongle plugged into the socket of a laptop or tablet (in the future such technology will be built into laptops and devices). The Li-Fi USB dongle returns data to the luminaire through an infrared link. With Philips LiFi-enabled luminaires, customers get the double benefit of quality, energy-efficient LED light and a highly secure, stable and robust connection as Li-Fi has 10,000 times the spectrum of Wi-Fi.
Philips’ office luminaires enabled with Li-Fi technology provide broadband connection with a speed of 30 Mb per second (Mb/s) without compromising lighting quality. With 30Mb/s a user can stream simultaneously several HD quality videos while having video calls.
“While radio frequencies are becoming congested, the visible light spectrum is an untapped resource with a large bandwidth suitable for the stable simultaneous connection of a vast array of Internet of Things devices,” said Qiu.
French real estate company Icade is piloting this groundbreaking technology in its smart office in La Defense, France.
“LiFi has the potential to be a real game changer in offices,” enthused Emmanuelle Baboulin, head of the Commercial Property Investment Division at Icade. “As the leader in our market, we wanted to explore the possibilities of this technology for existing and future clients. We plan to showcase the technology in our smart office in La Defense, so aside from stable connectivity, light quality is crucial to us.”
Icade also recognizes how, unlike Wi-Fi, Li-Fi can be used in places where radio frequencies may interfere with equipment, such as hopitals or where Wi-Fi signals cannot reach or are weak.