For the second time this month, Li-Fi has landed in the classroom, transmitting internet to pupils via infrared rather than via Wi-Fi’s radio frequencies. This time, four elementary schools in Belgium have gone for it, and in so doing, have provided the industry some lessons on Li-Fi practicalities.
Three schools in Brussels, Flobecq, and Wanze have installed Trulifi 6002 systems from Signify. The fourth school, in Aubange, is expected to do the same soon.
In all four instances, the schools are dispensing with transmitting via visible light from luminaires. Instead, all four are using infrared (IR), part of the nonvisible spectrum of longer wavelength frequencies beyond visible red.
Signify shifts to infrared
Although visible light is indeed one way to transmit Li-Fi to computers and gadgets, Signify for one has now switched exclusively to offering IR only, the company told LEDs Magazine. It began the shift from visible LEDs to IR LEDs when it introduced Trulifi 6002 in June 2019.