Government tests LiFi, to transmit data at 10 GB per second in weak signal terrains

To connect rural and semi-urban cities with high Internet data speed, the ministry of electronics and IT has tested LiFi (Light Fidelity) enabled LED (Light emitting diodes ) light bulbs, which can transmit data at speeds that are much higher than Wi-Fi.

The idea is to establish a connection beyond fiber wire and provide regular internet signals in weak areas. Its speeds can touch as much as 10 GB per second over a km radius.

The Education and Research Network (ERNET), an autonomous scientific society under the ministry, conducted the pilot. The pilot project was conducted in association with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras at its campus along with lighting company Philips

Neena Pahuja, Director General of ERNET talking to ET said that the biggest utilisation of LiFi technology could be in the upcoming smart cities, whose underlying theme will be the Internet of things (IOT) for modern city management and will be connected by LED bulbs.

Entrackr's queries regarding technology implementation to the ministry of electronics and IT did not elicit a response till the publication of this report.

Among major advantages, LiFi technology is not dependent on mobile spectrum. The technology coupled with solar cells as receivers offer solutions that could deliver communications and access to the world wide web in a way that the current free space optical (FSO) systems on their own cannot do.

Li-Fi communication can be provided through any source of controllable light.

It also enables one to do is to build in an inherently more secure communication system while maintaining the ability to communicate to any other user in any other location.

Also read: Internet speed in India far below claim, among lowest internationally: Study

In last few years, India has tried many alternatives technology to transmit data. Other than WhiteSpace, which required licensed mobile spectrum, Google's Loon project tested the potential of transmitting data using balloons floating at a height of 20 km using 4G technology. Though, it did not get much traction.

The potential market for Li-Fi is said to be greater than $100 billion by 2022. According to industry experts, IoT application is an exciting area where Li-Fi has the potential for completely revolutionizing the way we live.