Indoor Hybrid WiFi/LiFi Wireless Networks (IHWLNets): Architecture, Channel Models, State of the Art, and Future Directions

Indoor Hybrid WiFi/LiFi Networks, or IHWLNets, are a ground-breaking solution to indoor wireless networking that leverages the complementary qualities of both Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) and Light Fidelity ($\mathbf{L i F i}$) technologies. In today’s connected world, wherein the requirement for high-speed data transfer within interior environments continues to rise, IHWLNets emerge as a strategic option. WiFi, noted for its extensive availability and versatility, satisfies the varying connection demands of consumers from many industries. At the same time, LiFi, which transmits data via light rays, offers remarkable speed, security, and resilience to interference from electromagnetic waves, which makes it ideal for sensitive environments like medical and industry. By carefully integrating such technologies, IHWLNets hold the ability to redefine indoor connectivity, enhancing effectiveness, and user experiences in very important sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, and retail. As research and development in this area progresses, IHWLNets have immense potential to drive innovations in smart buildings, Internet of Things (IoT) deployments, and beyond, heralding an era of seamless connectivity and innovative applications. In this survey, we provide the reader with a solid background on $\mathbf{W i F i, L i F i}$ architectures and their channel models. Furthermore, we revise recent papers on indoor hybrid $\mathrm{WiFi} / \mathrm{LiFi}$ networks (IHWLNets) and provide some important future directions.