Signify, as a global leading lighting company, continues its development in innovative lighting technologies and sees light as a smart language to convey information. LiFi system which uses visible light to transmit data in over the air is a major focus of Signify to make light a new communication tool.

Heading to the era of IoT, the number of internet connected devices increases drastically. Ed Huibers, general manager of Signify‘s visible light wireless communication system business unit, pointed out that there would be more than 50 billion devices relying on wireless internet connection in 2022. To tackle the issue of limited radio spectrum, LiFi technology becomes a solution for wireless connection.

LiFi is a two-way high-speed wireless communication technology transmitting signals via visible light instead of traditional radio frequency. Therefore, LiFi is suitable for wireless radio-sensitive locations such as hospitals, clinics, factories or schools, or where WiFi signals are poor like underground spaces. Also, with guaranteed bandwidth and wide spectrum, LiFi provides stable data traffic and robust and reliable wireless communication for larger amount of users to connect multiple IoT devices at the same time. Moreover, LiFi allows the network transmission to be used only under controllable light coverage, enabling secure communication.

Based on its expertise in lighting technology, Signify provides LiFi luminaires providing data transmitting function as well as high lighting quality. However, in order to accelerate popularity of LiFi, improving optic performance of LiFi is critical, addressed Huibers. In addition, Signify has also been expanding its capability to develop corresponding components and software systems to speed up LiFi technology as currently LiFi can only be connected with a USB access key.

Currently, Signify has partnered with more than 50 clients across the world to trial LiFi applications. The lighting company provides comprehensive and customized solutions combining smart lighting and LiFi connection to ensure excellent quality of both functions.

Huibers said, "LiFi shows how light has become a new wisdom language and delivers information in an unprecedented way. In 2018, Signify became the first company in the world to have LiFi in general office lighting. The network-enabled lighting company, with its extensive expertise and global experience in IoT lighting, provides technology that disrupts the industry and creates innovation."