Broadband Data Transmission via Visible Light Moves Forward
A team from the Pyonhan University of Science and Technology in South Korea has announced a method for high-speed data transfer using visible light. The research appears in the scientific periodical Advanced Materials (AdMa) and centers on a technology commonly known as Li-Fi. This approach uses existing lighting to carry digital information, potentially transforming how households and workplaces connect to the internet. (Source: Advanced Materials)
Experts describe Li-Fi as capable of surpassing typical Wi-Fi speeds by more than one hundredfold under the right conditions. The concept relies on modulating the light emitted by everyday lamps, turning illumination into a data channel without requiring extra hardware. For users, this could mean faster wireless access in environments already equipped with LED lighting. (Source: Advanced Materials)
A persistent challenge in Li-Fi development has been the interference caused by overlapping light wavelengths. To address this, engineers combined red, blue, and green organic LEDs in lighting fixtures designed to minimize cross-talk. The team crafted a white light source with an interference zone kept deliberately compact, enabling more reliable data transmission. (Source: Advanced Materials)
The researchers report that the white light produced by their system shows a notably lower error rate in data transmission compared with conventional lighting-based sources. This improvement indicators that Li-Fi can offer stable performance for real-world use. (Source: Advanced Materials)
According to the study’s lead, Professor De Sunchun, the technology could become a useful tool across multiple industries. It positions Li-Fi as a next-generation wireless solution that leverages existing lighting infrastructure rather than requiring a separate network setup. The prospect is appealing for Canadian and American markets where large buildings, campuses, and urban environments demand robust, interference-free connectivity. (Source: Advanced Materials)
Historically, popular anecdotes have linked Wi-Fi disruptions to festive displays or decorative lighting. While those stories were partly sensational, they helped spark interest in how lighting conditions influence wireless performance. The current research emphasizes practical design choices that balance illumination quality with digital data needs, aiming for seamless integration into daily life. (Source: Advanced Materials)