Introduction

WiFi and LiFi both have wireless methods of data transmission. Both transmit and receive data wirelessly. Both wireless technologies are mostly used for internet-based applications. In today's blog, the introduction and difference between WiFi and LiFi will be described.

WiFi: Wireless Fidelity

WiFi is a wireless technology connected with devices that are enabled with wireless networks like personal computers, laptops, TV, tablets, and smartphones to provide internet services.

WiFi is a wireless network in which the radio signal or radio frequency (waves) is transmitted from a wireless router to nearby one or more devices. It works on the physical and data link layer of the OSI reference top-down layer. 

It was invented by NCR corporation in the year 1991.  WiFi is a phrase derived from the communication standard termed IEEE 802.11x and specific of its kind so x. It mostly operates on the typical frequencies of 2 kinds of bandwidth ranges, 2 GHz to 5.4 GHz. 

The latest version of WiFi was released in the year 2014, which has a speed of 1733 Mb/s in the radio frequency band of 5 GHz, which is known as 802.11 ac, the similar kind was released in 2020, Huawei created Wifi model that allows, up to 3.5 Gb/s known as WiFi 6.

LiFi: Light Fidelity

LiFi was first termed by professor Harvard Haas in 2011 in a TED Global talk on Visible Light Communication(VLC) held in Edinburgh. LiFi transmits data using light with the help of LED bulbs. 

Light is the source of medium for transmitting high-speed communication data equivalent to WiFi. The photodiode acts as a transceiver that receives the light signals(receiving the downlink) and sends back the light signals (sending the uplink). 

The light signal can be modulated at different rates in terms of the brightness of light at an extremely high speed. The communication IEEE standard for LiFi is IEEE 802.15.7-2011. 

It is high-speed, and the works on the principle of light modulation. LiFi consists of multiple light bulbs that forms a combined wireless network. The maximum speed of LiFi is approximately 224 Gb/sec. 

WiFi vs LiFi: The Dissimilarities

• Components: WiFi consists of subscribing station and a WiFi router. LiFi uses light bulbs, lamp drivers, and a photodetector.
• Interference issue: In WiFi, it faces nearby access point routers. LiFi does not have any interference issues with radio waves frequency (RF)
• Type of technology used: WLAN(Wireless Local Area Network) 802.11 a/b/g/n/gc/ad standard-based compliant devices are used in WiFi. LiFi is IrDA (Infrared Data Association) compliant device.
• Coverage of the distance: The area covered by LiFi is around 10 meters based on the intensity of light, while in the case of WiFi is about 32 meters more or less it varies depending upon the type of power and antenna. 
• Applications: WiFi is used in browsing the internet using hotspots and routers, in museums, hospitals, etc. LiFi is used in applications like airlines, underwater communications, offices, etc.

Conclusion

Both wireless technology have their pros and cons and their specific characteristics. Already WiFi is the most commonly used wireless network, LiFi could be just its alternative. 

Both technologies have greater importance, distinctive features, and detailed information, they can't be described in a single blog. 

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