Professor Harald Haas, who first introduced the term ‘LiFi’ during a widely viewed TED Talk, has made headlines across Indian and international media this October, during his visit to New Delhi for the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025. His forward-looking comments while there, linking LiFi to India’s future 6G ambitions, have sparked fresh interest in light-based communications, across Asia’s telecom ecosystem.
Below is a round up of the key messages Prof Haas delivered, a look at how the media interpreted them, and what is resonating currently in India’s tech discourse. Across outlets such as The Times of India, Communications Today, The Tribune and others, several themes stood out:
LiFi as a complement to 5G / 6G, not a replacement: Prof Haas emphasised that LiFi should be seen, not as a competitor, but as a “capacity boost” and energy‑efficient augmentation to future networks. As reported by The Times of India, he remarked that LiFi “can complement 5G and 6G networks by offering additional data capacity and energy‑efficient connectivity.”
Rural and remote connectivity use case: A reoccurring theme in press coverage was Prof Haas’s emphasis that LiFi could help bridge connectivity gaps in areas where fibre or radio infrastructure is too costly. The Tribune quoted him stating “Li-Fi can help connect rural communities by building free-space optical communications where fibre is too expensive.” These benefits have great appeal, given the continuing push for digital inclusion.
Novel ideas like solar panels as broadband receivers: Some of the more striking lines in the media were Prof Haas’s comments explaining the integration of LiFi with solar infrastructure, using solar panels not only to generate power but also as broadband receivers. The Times of India highlighted this in their summary of expert commentary.
India’s role in the global 6G race and collaborative ecosystem: Indian tech media positioned Prof Haas as a global voice, advocating for India’s leap into the 6G era, where LiFi could play a strategic role. Communications Today carried an article titled ‘Experts highlight India’s 6G push, Li‑Fi revolution, and global collaboration’, placing his visit within the broader ambition for cross‑country research partnerships. In a similar vein, IMC’s Bharat 6G Symposium agenda included Prof Haas as a featured speaker, tying LiFi into India’s 6G narrative, as reported by CXOtoday.
Indian news channels were also keen to hold video interviews with Prof Haas, providing opportunities for conversations on LiFi fundamentals, the technical challenges and how the Indian environment, including infrastructure, regulatory and energy, might influence adoption. One such interview was published by ETV Bharat on its Daily Motion channel. Prof Haas was also active on business and social media, including LinkedIn, where he acknowledged the “great interest … in India in #LiFi”, and mentioned Indian researchers like Prof Deepa Venkitesh who is leading optical 6G efforts.
Prof Haas’s presence in India marks a meaningful turning point, with the collective media “buzz” around LiFi signalling that it is a serious contender in India’s broader connectivity strategy. Prof Haas’s observations are strategically aligned with existing policy narratives in relation to: Digital India, a flagship programme of the Government of India with a vision to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy; Atmanirbhar Bharat, the foundation of a strong and developed India; and Bharat 6G, to design, develop and deploy 6G network technologies that provide ubiquitous, intelligent and secure connectivity for high quality living experience for the world. Thus, the future looks brighter than ever with LiFi.