LiFi is a new technology expected to be utilized practically in the future. For this reason, it will need to respond to a wide range of business activities, not just with technological development in both hardware and software, but by developing markets and formulating a long-term, wide-ranging vision regarding the kinds of products and applications into which LiFi can be incorporated. Today, we are joined by professionals from various fields who make up the KSLD team, including the creator of LiFi, Professor Harald Haas.

As a senior process engineer in the KSLD R&D department, I am mainly responsible for developing hardware technologies for LiFi. Existing LiFi primarily uses LED as a light source, but we are attempting to create Laser LiFi, a new product that utilizes GaN laser technology. It is a challenge that we can undertake thanks to the laser technology and know-how that Kyocera possesses, and we are proud that KSLD is the only company in the world undertaking this development.

I am mainly responsible for opening up new markets. As well as enabling faster and faster communication with higher capacity than LED-based technologies, the merits of Laser LiFi are that the light can travel long distances and has outstanding controllability and directionality. As such, I am seeking markets where those strengths can be leveraged daily.

Laser LiFi technology will lead to new solutions in various markets. Where do you see areas with high levels of interest?

In the field of mobility—for example, cars, aircrafts, and shipping—as well as being leveraged as a technology for vehicle-to-vehicle communication, it is highly likely that Laser LiFi can be successful as a means of communication to enable remote operation in autonomous driving. Another characteristic of blue wave GaN lasers is that light travels further. Even underwater, light is less likely to weaken, and because it covers longer distances, we believe that the realization of underwater wireless communication is also possible.

Laser LiFi can deliver high-capacity data quickly and accurately. My job as a marketing officer is to promote the kinds of capabilities that Laser LiFi has, develop product kits to suit practical use, and tell as many people as possible about the superior value of this technology.

Recently KSLD exhibited at CES in Las Vegas, right?

Yes, we did. At the show in Las Vegas, we gave a practical demonstration of the fact that Laser LiFi enables transmission speeds 100 times faster than 5G. Recently, we have also released a development kit that allows customers to tailor Laser LiFi performance in line with their needs. As a result, we have received positive feedback from many people, and we were chosen as a winner at the 2023 SPIE Prism Awards^*2, which recognize innovative technology in optical solutions.

My team and I have supported KSLD for six years through research projects and advisory work. We provide data based on the results of fundamental research into LiFi and draw up a long-term vision for the kind of societal transformation this technology will bring about. I am thrilled that LiFi, which I originally proposed, is gradually acquiring better performance thanks to this collaboration with KSLD.

Research and development for LiFi are actively being undertaken with other teams. What strengths do you believe are unique to development at KSLD?

Capitalizing on GaN technology to enable unprecedented data transmission speeds at very high distance can only be achieved by KSLD. The Laser LiFi prototype developed with KSLD is currently setting multiple records, including transmission speeds of 100 Gbps and the ability to communicate in the air, the sea, and outer space. In partnership with KSLD, it is our conviction that it will be possible to expand on many more use cases for LiFi, which will unlock new potentials for LiFi and enhance its contribution to society.

As well as high-performance communication, the merit of Laser LiFi is that it can operate using smaller amounts of energy. Laser LiFi can combine lighting and communication and reduce the need for inefficient RF transmitters. Laser LiFi can efficiently deliver data much further than any RF or LED that could travel in environments such as underwater.

You’re right. If you can imagine a laser pointer, it will be easier to understand the energy-saving mechanism. LED light spreads light more widely and would require special optics to collimate a light beam, whereas, with a laser, the light beam is much more confined and thus easier to control. In this way, because small amounts of light can be handled precisely, Laser LiFi exhibits energy savings and, therefore, lets us reduce our environmental impact.

Being able to handle light in a pinpoint fashion also gives rise to the advantages of high directionality and the ability to manage data securely. In addition, Laser LiFi enables the reliable and efficient exchange of data. In the business sector, it will bring about possibilities beyond our imagination in various contexts, such as health care, education, and entertainment.

As you said, Laser LiFi is set to make our everyday lives more enjoyable and convenient. Communication in augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and the metaverse will become much smoother than at present. Shortly, the scenarios depicted in science fiction movies may become commonplace.

As we head toward that phase of practical use, we would like to rapidly advance our research in collaboration with the partners expanding our technology’s possibilities. Because Laser LiFi is such a new technology, there may be untapped applications for its utilization that are as yet untapped and have been inconceivable until now. This is an unknown domain, so there will be many challenges, but overcoming those is also a motivation for me.

With a view to utilization and the increased demand accompanying an expanding market, it is also essential to establish a stable manufacturing system. We are leveraging decades of fiber optics communication manufacturing infrastructure with KSLDs unique semiconductor processing capabilities and Kyocera's packaging expertise to bring practical Laser LiFi to market. Compared with LED LiFi, a Laser LiFi system requires high-speed electronics that are difficult to obtain, so as we advance, we would also like to work on strengthening our supply chain in that regard.

As I said at the beginning, Laser LiFi cannot be developed just by experts in specific fields. So, a strength of our team is that experts in various fields—for example, hardware, software, and marketing—are joining forces. This team can demonstrate breadth and depth in its capabilities, so we want to continue generating results that amaze the world and contribute to society.

Working with this team is a driving force for conducting research. It excites me to think we are doing things no one else can. Working on projects with our friends at Kyocera generates a positive synergy, and it is fun to feel that development is moving forward.

Until now, the idea that wireless communication involves radio waves was the global norm. But Laser LiFi is a means to surpass radio waves concerning performance and sustainability. Moreover, as we keep showcasing this technology’s power and unique advantages in various use cases, many more people will wake up to the idea of light as a means of transmitting wireless data. I look forward to transforming accepted practice in communications from radio waves to light, and through this, having a significant impact on all kinds of cutting-edge technologies, such as mobility and robotics.