Advantages of LiFi technology,Disadvantages of LiFi technology

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.

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