Another milestone in the journey to internet via light waves was achieved this week when Li-Fi it was tested by an Estonian start-up in Tallinn, using Li-Fi enabled LED bulbs to transmit data at speeds of 1Gbps. It was deployed with success in an office, allowing workers to access the internet, and in an industrial space, where it provided a smart lighting solution.

Promising theoretical speeds of up to 224Gbps, Li-Fi offers an ultra-quick alternative to the radio waves we currently use. The prospect is made even more attractive when you consider that Li-Fi looks like normal white light, and it can safely be used on aircraft without interfering with other radio signals.

However it does have its limitations. It cannot currently be used outdoors in direct sunlight, and it cannot travel through walls. Current foreseeable use is therefore as a back-up in congested urban areas or places where Wi-Fi is limited like hospitals.

Sources:

1. BBC News:
   Li-fi 100 times faster than wi-fi.
2. International Business Times:
   What Is Li-Fi? Meet the Revolutionary Wireless Technology That Is 100 Times Faster Than Wi-Fi.