Advantages of LiFi technology | Disadvantages of LiFi technology
This page covers advantages and disadvantages of LiFi technology. It mentions benefits or advantages of LiFi and limitations or drawbacks or disadvantages of LiFi.
LiFi technology introduction:
• The LiFi is the short form of Light Fidelity. It is a wireless optical networking
technology which uses LEDs for data transmission.
• This technology is based on visible light communication (VLC) which uses light as
medium to deliver data instead of radio waves used in wifi.
• It uses operating range from 380 nm to 780 nm optical band.
• It uses LiFi modulation schemes such as
OOK, CCK, VPPM (Varible pulse Position Modulation) to offer different rates.
• It is defined in IEEE 802.15.7 standard.

It uses two main components LiFi controller or coordinator and LiFi dongles. The technology uses LED lamps on source side and photo detector based LiFi dongles on destination side. It is used for lighting and data communication related applications such as signboards, traffic signals, street lights, internet etc. Refer tutorial on Lifi technology which covers LiFi network topologies, LiFi protocol stack (PHY, MAC) and modulation schemes.
Benefits or advantages of LiFi technology

Following are the benefits or advantages of LiFi technology:
➨The data transfer rate for internet application is higher.
➨It provides high amount of security as data communication is line of sight (LOS).
Moreover lifi signal covers low region does not pass through the walls. This will avoid
unwanted access of lifi signal by unauthorized persons.
➨The lifi devices consume low power for operation and hence used in
IoT applications.
➨It uses optical spectrum and hence avoids already crowded RF spectrum.
➨As it operates on optical bands which are not harmful like RF spectrum.
Hence there is no health concerns in LiFi based system.
➨There is great amount of energy reduction in lighting industry which
uses LiFi based devices.
➨It is easy to install.
Drawbacks or disadvantages of LiFi technology

Following are the limitations or drawbacks or disadvantages of LiFi technology:
➨Internet can be used only where light of source device is available.
Moreover light can not penetrate from walls and it works only in line of sight path.
This limits access of internet whereever one requires.
Moreover its range is limited.
➨It can not be used in outdoor environment like RF signal.
This is because of interference caused by sunlight and other optical sources present
nearby. Moreover it can be intercepted by the unwanted people if used outdoors.
➨Though the installation is simple, Lifi system requires whole new infrastructure.
This will add cost to the companies/people wanting to take LiFi Internet service.
➨Though it draws low power, in order to avail lifi internet services, lights
need to be kept ON throughout day and night. As internet is need of the hour,
this will waste energy more than any other internet system.
➨One can not watch games and videos on internet in the dark during
night before sleeping on the bed.
Conclusion
Let us summarizes important points.
Following are the advantages of LiFi over wifi:
• Higher bandwidth, • better efficiency, • better connectivity, •
• greater security, • higher speed and • low cost of lighting units.
Following are the disadvantages of LiFi over wifi:
• LOS communication between transmitter and receiver
• Required costly devices for better performance
• Presence of light is a must
• Shorter range than wifi
• Interference from other light sources
• Blockage due to opaque obstacles and so on.
LiFi and WiFi Related Links
LiFi tutorial
LiFi vs WiFi
LiFi vs GiFi
Data Over Light basics mentioning how Li-Fi works
WiFi Internet using WiFi hotspots
MiFi vs WiFi
WiFi RF Channels
Advantages and Disadvantages of other wireless technologies
What is Difference between
difference between OFDM and OFDMA
Difference between SC-FDMA and OFDM
Difference between SISO and MIMO
Difference between TDD and FDD
FDMA vs TDMA vs CDMA
FDM vs TDM
CDMA vs GSM