Releasing Bandwidth
First there was light, now there is Visible Light Communication to expand our window on the world. Harald Haas, Professor of Mobile Communications at the University of Edinburgh, and his team specialise in finding innovative solutions to mobile communication challenges. Using the visible light spectrum of LED lights not only offers a more energy efficient source of light, it also offers a viable alternative to an overburdened radio bandwidth system.

‘There are many data hungry applications and the radio spectrum is limited,’ Haas explains the challenge. ‘The use of wireless mobile applications is growing and we are running out of radio spectrum to use. This was the problem in 2003, my colleagues and I began to study. We had a few ideas and weren’t sure if they would work but we worked on the release of radio frequencies spectrum to provide more wireless capabilities for the future. The visible light spectrum is 10,000 times larger than the radio frequencies spectrum so I wanted to uncover other possible technologies.’

Light and easy
LiFi is the term they coined to describe how their concept works. The light intensity of LEDs can be controlled very rapidly and are faster than the human eye can detect. Digital information can easily be converted by a small device in the light fitting into minute variations in light, even at very low levels of light and transfer to other devices many times faster than the data coming into the building. The light emissions are harmless to humans and can be transmitted even if the light source is dimmed or reflected around the room.

Ready for market
Data security is another key advantage as the light data stream is only available to devices within the four walls in which it is transmitted. Haas foresees Li-Fi having a very practical benefit in the home, hospitals, schools, banks, public buildings, aircraft, even under water.

Their goal of producing an LED bulb that can be fitted to a standard light fitting, completely off the shelf and with very low energy requirement has been achieved. Haas’s team are now aiming to get their product to the market in January 2012. This simple light bulb is set to change our understanding of mobile communication.