News

Meet LiFi: The New Tech Delivering High-Speed Internet Using Light

The cutting-edge innovation offers low latency, stable streaming, and doesn’t force users to compromise with bandwidth.

Published

9 months ago

February 29, 2024

Nour Nasir

meet lifi the new technology delivering high-speed internet using light

pureLiFi

Looking for faster internet than Wi-Fi? Enter LiFi, a groundbreaking technology launched by pureLiFi, a UK-based company, at the Mobile World Congress (MWC 2024) in Barcelona. This innovative approach to wireless communication utilizes light, offering users low latency and congestion-free experiences for gaming, video conferencing, and media streaming.

Unlike traditional methods like Wi-Fi and 5G, LiFi transmits data wirelessly through light, circumventing common issues such as buffering and signal vulnerability. Ron Schaeffer, pureLiFi’s chief strategy officer, highlighted LiFi’s ease of use and lack of congestion compared to traditional Wi-Fi.

“Just like Wi-Fi access points people have, it is also a plug-and-play. People can plug into a network, and within a few seconds, you have LiFi,” explained Schaeffer.

purelifi lifi cube

“Importantly, it is not subject to congestion like Wi-Fi is. Everyone who would be connected to LiFi will have full bandwidth. For instance, if you are watching a video, someone is on a video call and another person is playing a VR game, you all are competing for Wi-Fi bandwidth. With LiFi, everyone has their own bandwidth. You can take off the Wi-Fi network and put it onto LiFi; the internet experience also improves because it is less congested. So, we say LiFi makes Wi-Fi better,” the Chief Strategy Officer added.

LiFi boasts impressive capabilities, transmitting and receiving 1GB of data per second in each direction, covering an area of up to 50 square meters. Its inherent security benefits, stemming from its inability to pass through walls, make it particularly interesting to security-conscious users.

Also Read: Getting Started With Google Gemini: A Beginner’s Guide

pureLiFi plans to collaborate with telecom providers to deploy its devices in homes and offices. Schaeffer emphasized the company’s potential to revolutionize internet connectivity, citing its vast spectrum availability compared to radio frequencies.

Alistair Banham, CEO of pureLiFi, expressed excitement about LiFi’s ability to address current and future connectivity challenges, including the release of light antennas for various devices: “LiFi is now ready to augment and extend other wireless technologies ushering in a new era of bandwidth, speed and reliable communications,” he said.

News

Viasat Satellite Messaging Tech Showcased In Saudi Arabia

The direct-to-device (D2D) demonstration highlighted the technology’s potential to revolutionize remote communication.

Published

2 days ago

November 28, 2024

Nour Nasir

viasat satellite messaging tech showcased in saudi arabia

Satellite communications firm Viasat announced yesterday that it had completed its first demonstration of direct-to-device (D2D) satellite connectivity technology in Saudi Arabia. The live broadcast took place during the “Connecting the World from the Skies” event in Riyadh, organized by Saudi Arabia’s Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST) alongside the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

Attendees witnessed successful satellite-based two-way messaging and SOS alerts sent using commercial Android smartphones and a combination of Viasat’s robust L-band satellite network and the Bullitt over-the-top messaging app. Signals were transmitted using the company’s L-band spacecraft positioned over the Indian Ocean, while the infrastructure for 3GPP NTN services was deployed by Viasat’s partner Skylo.

Sandeep Moorthy, Viasat’s Chief Technical Officer, emphasized the significance of the demonstration, explaining, “By expanding our direct-to-device innovation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, we’re showcasing the potential for D2D services in the fast-growing Gulf and Asia-Pacific region. D2D could help reduce barriers to connectivity in regions where terrestrial services are spotty and unavailable to help transform industries and supply chains, enable new opportunities, and to become more efficient, sustainable and safer. We’d like to thank the CST for their support in carrying out this exciting demonstration”.

Also Read: Joby Begins Construction Of Dubai’s First Vertiport For Air Taxis

D2D technology allows devices like smartphones, vehicles, and industrial equipment to connect seamlessly to both satellite and terrestrial networks. Unlike traditional satellite setups, D2D eliminates the need for extra hardware, thanks to emerging global standards that are gaining traction among satellite operators, mobile network providers, and tech manufacturers.

What makes this approach particularly promising is that Viasat uses a licensed, dedicated satellite spectrum to deliver its D2D services. This avoids any interference with existing terrestrial networks, allowing smooth integration with mobile network operators in the future.

The demonstration clearly showed the potential of D2D technology to bridge connectivity gaps in remote regions while opening up opportunities for innovation, improved safety, sustainability, and efficiency.