LiFi could replace WiFi in 10 years

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LiFi, the use of light waves to generate a wireless internet connection, could become the main source of connectivity in buildings within the next 10 years, according to Wiredscore.

Speaking last week at MIPIM, bosses of the connectivity ratings firm William Newton and Tom Redmayne said that the future of connectivity could see the use of LEDs replacing WiFi as we currently know it.

“We often get asked about the future of connectivity and what the biggest things in the years to come will be,” said Redmayne.

“And while fibre will still be a mainstay, we are excited about the tech involved in LiFi. Essentially it will be a game-changer, using LED lights to generate WiFi.

“As out-there and distant as it seems, what is really interesting is that Apple has already built in the code around it in their latest IOS10 and we see it as being a game-changer in the next few years.”

Newton added: “I expect in 10 years’ time, we will have no WiFi and all of the internet we get to our laptops in a building will come from all of the light bulbs in the building, beaming internet 1,000 times faster than on WiFi.

“One of the other big benefits is that because light can’t travel through walls, you can’t have a hacker in the room next door to you watching what you are doing. It’s a much more secure technology.”

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