In early July 2023 the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) unveiled 802.11bb as the new standard for light-based wireless communications, marking a significant milestone in the advancement of Li-Fi technology. The release of this standard has been eagerly anticipated by global Li-Fi businesses, as it paves the way for faster adoption and widespread implementation of this revolutionary data-transmission technology.
Advocates of Li-Fi, including pureLiFi, Fraunhofer HHI, and the Light Communications 802.11bb Task Group, emphasize the numerous advantages of utilizing light instead of radio frequencies (RF). Li-Fi is touted as offering “faster, more reliable wireless communications with unparalleled security compared to conventional technologies such as Wi-Fi and 5G.” With the introduction of the IEEE 802.11bb Li-Fi standard, the hope is that interoperability between Li-Fi systems and established Wi-Fi networks will be fully addressed.
However, it is important to note that Li-Fi is not poised to completely replace Wi-Fi and 5G alternatives, or even wired networks. Radio waves still hold a distinct advantage when it comes to long-distance transmission through the atmosphere and opaque objects. Instead, the focus should be on utilizing each technology where it excels.
A video released by Fraunhofer HHI showcases a Li-Fi system utilizing a building’s existing lighting infrastructure for data transmission. The intriguing aspect of Li-Fi is that it operates within the infrared spectrum, making the data transfer invisible to the human eye as the lights remain constant.
Li-Fi’s true strengths lie not only in its impressive speeds but also in its exclusive use of the optical spectrum. Dominic Schulz from Fraunhofer HHI highlights that this exclusive spectrum ensures higher reliability, lower latency, and reduced jitter. Moreover, the line-of-sight propagation of light enhances security by preventing wall penetration, reducing the risks of jamming and eavesdropping, and enabling centimeter-precision indoor navigation.
With the publication of the IEEE 802.11bb standard, manufacturers can now confidently integrate Li-Fi technology into their devices. Leading Li-Fi player, pureLiFi, has already developed the pureLiFi Light Antenna ONE module, a tiny 14.5mm component that is currently being provided to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for evaluation. In its promotional materials, pureLiFi emphasizes the superiority of Li-Fi over Wi-Fi, citing benefits such as congestion-free connections, enhanced security and privacy, and the ability to handle high-bandwidth tasks effortlessly.
Anticipate a wider range of Li-Fi network devices and user devices that support the standard to emerge in the coming months leading up to Mobile World Congress (MWC) next February. This release of the IEEE 802.11bb standard has set the stage for Li-Fi to revolutionize wireless communications, offering lightning-fast speeds, unparalleled security, and unlocking a world of possibilities for connected devices and smart environments.
