The French government has moved to ban Wi-Fi in nurseries, schools, and childcare centres that cater for children under six in a bid to protect young people from ‘possibly carcinogenic’ electromagnetic waves. As a result, companies who develop Li-Fi, a system that uses light to provide internet access, is eyeing the opportunity to penetrate the market and is expected to grab a high portion of the Wi-Fi market in the commercial segment,.

Li-Fi uses visible light from LED luminaires to transmit information instead of electromagnetic waves, therefore escaping the ban.

Li-Fi is currently in the early stages of development however the technology is also expected to penetrate hospitals and health centres. 

Speaking at Lux Review’s recent Rail Conference, Benjamin Azoulay of Oledcomm, who is behind the installation of Li-Fi on the Paris Metro, highlighted the new role that Li-Fi could play in the French public buildings.

‘We will be able to develop the first bi-directional Li-Fi installation for hospitals,’ Azoulay told the conference. 

‘This will act to reduce exposure to electromagnetic pollution and bring reliable internet access to neonatal units and kindergartens where electromagnetic waves are currently forbidden.’

The installation of Li-Fi on the Paris Metro will be a massive success story. The Paris project is large in scale, requiring 10,000 light points to be fitted with Li-Fi technology. 

With the advancement of technology it is hoped that mini-Li-Fi receptors will be used in smartphones that will allow people to use their mobile phones via wireless internet connection provided by lighting.

To learn more about the Paris Metro Li-Fi installation, click HERE