Since the third quarter, reports have suggested that the Li-Fi market could really take off in the coming years, notably thanks to the involvement of manufacturers that were previously more cautious and lacked the resources to produce devices compatible with this new technology.
According to the research firm Market Research Future, the Li-Fi market could reach US$2.3 billion by 2030; while the Imarc research group is even more optimistic, expecting the market to grow to well over US$4 billion by 2027.
It may be difficult to agree on the exact numbers, but the trend nevertheless seems pretty clear.
Li-Fi – which stands for “light fidelity” – is a wireless communication technology based on the use of the light spectrum to transmit data and position between devices. This technology facilitates two-way communication at high speed, in any closed environment equipped with LED lighting, whether it is an office, a car, an airplane, an operating theatre, or a commercial complex.
In terms of throughput, Li-Fi could theoretically allow access to speeds of over 1Gbps (equivalent to Wi-Fi). In lab tests, researchers have even been able to achieve speeds of over 220 Gbps – unthinkable under normal conditions.
The use of light as a means of providing connectivity has many advantages, starting with an already existing infrastructure and low energy consumption – and without any additional waves or radiation, minimising potential harm to the body.
Moreover, it is also a secure solution since it is limited to a specific area. Unlike Wi-Fi, here, the connection cannot pass through walls.
The technology has been around for several years now but has mainly been reserved for a limited few professionals in the automotive, electronics, defence, aerospace and health sectors.
But, in the future, individuals will also have the opportunity to benefit from this technology, since many manufacturers intend to eventually launch compatible connected devices.
Computers, smartphones and tablets do not currently have a sensor compatible with Li-Fi. But this situation could soon change thanks to the integration of drivers capable of supporting Li-Fi from the pureLiFi company into the Linux system.
Note that Linux serves as the basis for a much more popular system – Android. The integration of Li-Fi into the Linux kernel is, therefore, only the start of things to come, before it potentially gains momentum and all smartphones and computers can one day enjoy compatibility.
The last essential condition for Li-Fi to go mainstream is for LED lighting to become the norm, whether in private homes, businesses, or public places.