When it comes to next-generation technology, the anticipated 5G network is one of the best examples. The technological advancement all of a sudden took the world by storm. Now, devices, especially mobile phones, are releasing units that are compatible with 5G connection. Compared to 4G connection we’re familiar with, of course, 5G is smarter, better, and more efficient.

And if you combine 5G connection with LiFi, you’ll have ultra-high-speed wireless broadband connectivity available at your fingertips, with faster speeds available, massive data can be transmitted with ease.

Imagine sending massive chunks of data in seconds. That’s the future.

Laser LiFi and its Advantages

Currently, LED LiFi is commercially available for companies to use. On the other hand, a company in Santa Barbara, California is testing a new type of LiFi, which uses laser light, a stronger light source that offers 100x luminance than LED. According to SLD Laser, Laser Light also offers narrower beam angles, 10x distance, and a sharper light contrast. The company also said that their Laser Light uses blue-emitting lasers that decreases the laser’s power, making it safe for the human eye.

During one event, SLD Laser tested their laser LiFi, and the data rates reached 20 GB/s. As for 5G, the wireless communication currently rolled out ‘s data rates are between 1 GB/s and could go as high as 10 GB/s.

With the use of laser light, LiFi easily enables autonomous cars to communicate with each other through the headlights, send large amounts of data to smart homes and factories, and even allow drone users to receive high-resolution images from their drones while up in the sky. The company’s goal is to help with the current overload with radio frequencies and offer an alternative that’s faster, able to transfer bigger-sized data in one place to another, and uses less power and difficulty than RF equipment.

What is LiFi?

LiFi or Light Fidelity is bi-directional wireless communication that uses light to transfer data from one device into another. Comparing LiFi to WiFi, it’s similar to how data transfer happens—there’s no need for a cable. On the other hand, a striking difference is WiFi uses radio frequency while LiFi uses lights, specifically LED lamps, to transfer data. The concept is that users install their LiFi routers on ceilings and use the installed LED lights to transmit the data around the room at ultra-fast speeds. What’s impressive is that the transfer is not visible to the human eye. That’s how fast the transfer is happening. However, users must make sure to have a photosensitive detector to convert the data into electronic form.

There are a lot of benefits once LiFi becomes widely used. Among the advantages are smart lighting, which allows users to use street lights as LiFi hotspots, providing new access to send data, freeing up the radio spectrum and overloaded shared bandwidth, and much more.