Description

Source: Moneycontrol
Disclaimer: Copyright infringement not intended.
Context
- Velmenni, a telecom startup, received a grant from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) under the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative.
- Objective: To strengthen wireless communication specifically for the Indian Navy, addressing unique communication challenges in harsh environments.
Details
Advantages for the Indian Navy
- Enhanced Data Transmission:
- Speed: Provides high-speed connections, essential for real-time communication and data transfer.
- Bandwidth: Offers a broader spectrum than radio frequencies, reducing congestion.
- Security:
- Physical Barriers: Operates using visible light, ensuring data transmission even in shielded or underground areas where radio frequency (RF) signals cannot penetrate.
- Interference: Immune to electromagnetic interference, maintaining secure communications in electronic warfare environments.
- Operational Efficiency:
- Mission-Critical Operations: Enables seamless communication and coordination during critical missions, enhancing overall operational efficiency.
- Connectivity: Ensures uninterrupted connectivity in areas where RF communication is challenging or compromised, such as underwater or in secure facilities.
Strategic Alignment with Government Initiatives
- iDEX Programme:
- Designed to foster innovation within India’s defense sector by incorporating advanced technologies like Li-Fi.
- Aligns with Make in India, Startup India, and the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) to stimulate homegrown technological advancements.
Light Fidelity (Li-Fi)
- Li-Fi (Light Fidelity) is a wireless communication technology that uses light to transmit data.
- Origin: Coined by Professor Harald Haas from the University of Edinburgh during a TED Talk in 2011.
- Unlike Wi-Fi, which uses radio waves, Li-Fi uses visible light from LEDs to transmit data.
How Li-Fi Works
- Basic Principle: Data is transmitted through light by modulating the intensity of the LED light bulb, which is then received by a photodetector.
- Components:
- LED Light Bulb: Acts as a transmitter by modulating light intensity.
- Photodetector: Receives the modulated light and converts it back to electrical signals.
- Processor: Decodes the electrical signals into data.
- Data Transmission: High-speed on/off switching of LEDs at nanosecond speeds allows the transmission of data.
Advantages of Li-Fi
- Speed: Capable of speeds up to 224 Gbps under laboratory conditions.
- Bandwidth: Utilizes the visible light spectrum, which is 10,000 times larger than the radio spectrum.
- Security: Light cannot penetrate walls, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.
- Interference: No electromagnetic interference, making it suitable for environments like hospitals and airplanes.
- Energy Efficiency: LEDs are energy-efficient and can serve dual purposes of lighting and communication.
Limitations of Li-Fi
- Line of Sight: Requires a direct line of sight between the LED and the receiver.
- Distance: Limited range compared to Wi-Fi due to light diffusion.
- Infrastructure: Requires installation of LED light bulbs and photodetectors, which may be costly.

Applications of Li-Fi
- Internet of Things (IoT): Facilitates communication between IoT devices.
- Healthcare: Provides secure and interference-free data transmission in hospitals.
- Aviation: Offers high-speed internet in airplanes without causing interference.
- Underwater Communication: Enables data transmission underwater, where radio waves are less effective.
- Smart Lighting: Integrates data communication with lighting infrastructure in smart cities.
Comparison of Various Wireless Communication Technologies
Feature
|
Wi-Fi
|
Li-Fi
|
Bluetooth
|
Zigbee
|
TransMediummission
|
Radio waves
|
Visible light (LEDs)
|
Radio waves
|
Radio waves
|
Frequency Range
|
2.4 GHz, 5 GHz
|
400–800 THz
|
2.4 GHz
|
2.4 GHz
|
Data Transfer Speed
|
Up to 1.3 Gbps
|
Up to 224 Gbps (theoretical)
|
Up to 3 Mbps
|
Up to 250 kbps
|
Range
|
Up to 100 meters
|
Limited to the range of light
|
Up to 100 meters
|
Up to 100 meters
|
Interference
|
Susceptible to interference
|
No electromagnetic interference
|
Susceptible to interference
|
Low interference
|
Power Consumption
|
Moderate to high
|
Low (LED-based)
|
Low
|
Very low
|
Security
|
Moderate
|
High (cannot penetrate walls)
|
Moderate
|
High
|
Infrastructure Cost
|
Moderate to high
|
High (installation of LEDs and photodetectors)
|
Low
|
Low
|
Applications
|
Internet access, IoT
|
IoT, Healthcare, Aviation, Underwater communication, Smart lighting
|
Short-range data transfer, Peripheral devices
|
Home automation, Smart energy, IoT
|
Standardization
|
Well-established standards
|
Emerging, not yet standardized
|
Well-established standards
|
Well-established standards
|
Energy Efficiency
|
Moderate to low
|
High (energy-efficient LEDs)
|
High
|
Very high
|
Line of Sight
|
Not required
|
Required
|
Not required
|
Not required
|
Mobility
|
High
|
Limited
|
High
|
High
|
Latency
|
Low to moderate
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
Complexity
|
Moderate
|
High
|
Low
|
Low
|
Sources:
Moneycontrol
PRACTICE QUESTION
Q: Li-Fi has the potential to revolutionize wireless communication with its high speed and security features. Comment. (150 Words)
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