Light Fidelity (Li-Fi) in Aerospace: A New Frontier for High-Speed Data Transmission

Abstract

The demand for high-speed, secure, and interference-free data communication in aerospace systems has accelerated the search for alternatives to traditional radio frequency (RF) technologies. Light Fidelity (Li-Fi), a wireless communication system that uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to transmit data, has emerged as a promising solution. Li-Fi offers significantly higher bandwidth, enhanced data security, and immunity to electromagnetic interference—qualities that are critical in aerospace environments such as aircraft cabins, satellites, and space stations. During my year-long study of Li-Fi, I found that light-based communication not only increases the speed of communication but is also faster than the current medium for communication, whether be it on land or high altitudes or even space. This paper explores the fundamentals of Li-Fi technology, its advantages over existing systems, its application in aerospace communication, and the current challenges to implementation. Through this research, I aim to highlight the deployment of Li-Fi at high altitudes and space-based communications henceforth making it ideal for next-gen aerospace systems.

Introduction

With growing demands for faster, more secure, and interference-free data transmission—especially in aerospace—traditional radio frequency (RF) communication faces limitations like limited bandwidth, interference, and spectrum congestion. Light Fidelity (Li-Fi), which uses visible light via LED modulation for data transfer, has emerged as a promising alternative offering high speed, low latency, enhanced security, and immunity to electromagnetic interference.

This paper reviews the fundamentals of Li-Fi technology, its advantages over RF systems, and its specific aerospace applications such as in-flight connectivity, inter-satellite communication, and passenger internet access. Studies show that aircraft cabin lighting can be repurposed as Li-Fi access points, enabling high-speed, secure data transfer without interfering with avionics. Li-Fi also offers superior data rates and better security due to its line-of-sight and non-penetrative nature.

However, challenges remain, including strict line-of-sight requirements, potential disruption from physical obstructions, and ambient light interference inside aircraft cabins. The paper discusses mitigation strategies like adaptive modulation and filtering to improve reliability. Standards like ITU-T G.9991 and the recent IEEE 802.11bb provide frameworks for Li-Fi development, but further research, experimental validation, and standardization tailored for aerospace environments are necessary.

Conclusion

Li-Fi technology represents a promising new frontier for high-speed data transmission in aerospace applications. Its advantages over traditional radio frequency communication, including higher bandwidth, enhanced security, and reduced electromagnetic interference, make it a compelling candidate for in-flight connectivity and satellite communication networks. However, the practical implementation of Li-Fi faces challenges such as line-of-sight limitations and ambient light interference, which require further research and technological innovation. The theoretical analysis and literature reviewed in this paper highlight both the potential and the hurdles in adopting Li-Fi within aerospace environments. Future work should focus on experimental validation, development of robust modulation and filtering techniques, and the adaptation of emerging standards like IEEE 802.11bb to meet aerospace-specific requirements. With continued advancements, Li-Fi could revolutionize the way data is transmitted in the skies and beyond. From my research, it is evident that Li-Fi can offer revolutionary improvements in aerospace communication, especially in addressing current bandwidth limitations Although experimental validation was beyond the scope of this paper, the theoretical insights provide a solid foundation for future studies I hope this paper inspires further exploration into integrating Li-Fi technology with existing aerospace communication systems.

References

[1] Yesilkaya, A., & Haas, H. (2022). In-flight Visible Light Communication Using Reading Lights as Access Points. arXiv. https://arxiv.org/abs/2202.05911 [2] Amanor, E. N., & Haas, H. (2018). LED-Based Visible Light Communication for Inter-Satellite Links in Small Satellite Systems. arXiv. https://arxiv.org/abs/1806.01791 [3] Oledcomm. (2022). Li-Fi takes off in the aeronautics sector. Oledcomm. https://www.oledcomm.net/blog/news/lifi-takes-off-in-the-aeronautics-sector/ [4] International Telecommunication Union. (n.d.). ITU-T G.9991: Visible Light Communication. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITU-T_G.9991 [5] IEEE Standards Association. (2023). IEEE 802.11bb – Light-based Wireless Networking Standard. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_802.11bb [6] Haas, H. (2011). Wireless data from every light bulb [Video]. TED. https://www.ted.com/talks/harald_haas_wireless_data_from_every_light_bulb [7] Chowdhury, M. Z., Hossan, M. T., Islam, A., & Jang, Y. M. (2018). A comparative survey of optical wireless technologies: Architectures and applications. IEEE Access, 6, 9819–9840. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2018.2799940

Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Abhinav Keshary. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.