Scientists have managed to smash the record for wireless data transmission after making use of white light emitting diodes (LEDs) rather than radio waves.
Aiming to develop faster and more secure Wi-Fi technology, the team from Siemens trialled Ostar LEDs, which are modulated at a frequency that allows for high-speed data transference to a photodetector capable of receiving light signals and converting them into electrical pulses.
They found that the new method was able to generate data transfer speeds of around 500 Mbps, compared to the record of 200 Mbps achieved through radio waves.
What's more, the Siemens scientists believe that, by making use of multiple LEDs, it should be possible to create Wi-Fi networks capable of transferring data over long distances at a speed of 100 Mbps.
Furthermore, as well as the speed advantages of the LED method, this is also likely to be far more secure than any radio wave-led technology as data receivers are required to have special photodetectors in place to receive any information.
Just last week, another German company, the carmaker Audi, launched its new-look A8, which makes use of OSRAM LEDs in its headlamps.