Having (or suffering from) a slow Wi-Fi connection is a source of irritation for everyone who experiences it. Wireless devices in the home consume more and more data and this we know, which is only in principle, because our technological needs do not stop growing . All of this is increasingly congesting the wi-fi network.
Fortunately, a team of researchers from the Eindhoven University of Technology (the Netherlands) has found a surprising solution: a wireless network based on completely harmless infrared optical rays . Its capacity is not only amazing, more than 40Gbit / second per beam , but also there is no need to share the connection, since each device gets its own beam of light. 100 times faster than Wi-Fi and with quick, easy and cheap setup.
How does it work?
The key is in a few central ‘light antennas’ -which we could perfectly mount on the ceiling-, which are the ones that direct the light rays provided by fiber optics. As it is a device without moving parts, it does not require maintenance and less energy: the antennas have a pair of grids that radiate rays of light at different wavelengths and different angles that do not affect the human eye. The system is harmless.
Thus, the technology works in a very clear way : you go with your tablet around the house and while you move, different light antennas take over to give you coverage. The network tracks the location of each of the wireless devices and different wavelengths are assigned without sharing capacity or the possibility of interfering with the neighbor’s Wi-Fi.
Taking into account that the Wi-Fi we use today uses radio signals with a frequency of 2.5 or even 5Ghz, the new system has frequencies that are thousands of times higher, about 200 terahertz.
When will it be ready?
The researchers estimate that in about 5 years this technology will be available in stores.
