Alphabet has unveiled a groundbreaking advancement in optical wireless communication with the introduction of the Taara chip, a fingernail-sized silicon photonic chip that leverages light beams to transmit high-speed internet. Announced by Taara General Manager Mahesh Krishnaswamy, this innovation is poised to significantly reduce both costs and deployment times for high-speed internet connectivity, particularly in rural and remote areas.
Building upon Alphabet’s first-generation Lightbridge technology, which employed mirrors and sensors to direct light beams for data transmission, the Taara chip represents a major leap forward. Unlike its predecessor, which was the size of a traffic light, the new Taara chip eliminates bulky mechanical components and instead relies entirely on software for automatic beam steering, ensuring a more efficient and compact design.
Taara operates under X, Alphabet’s moonshot division, and its wireless optical link technology has its roots in Project Loon—Alphabet’s now-defunct initiative that aimed to provide internet access via high-altitude balloons. Despite Loon’s closure in 2021, Taara has continued to refine light-based broadband solutions, successfully deploying its technology to transmit internet across challenging environments, including the Congo River and urban centers such as Nairobi.
The Taara system utilizes invisible, ultra-narrow light beams to achieve data transmission speeds of up to 20 Gbps over distances of up to 20 kilometers (12.1 miles). Functioning similarly to fiber-optic cables but without the need for physical infrastructure, Taara offers a cost-effective and rapid deployment alternative to traditional fiber networks, which often require months or even years to install.
Krishnaswamy highlighted that Taara’s units can be deployed in a matter of days, making them an ideal solution for locations where laying fiber-optic cables is impractical or prohibitively expensive. In laboratory tests, Alphabet’s team successfully transmitted data at 10 Gbps over a one-kilometer distance using two Taara chips, demonstrating the chip’s capability and efficiency. Engineers are now focused on enhancing the chip’s capacity and range by scaling up to thousands of light emitters.
The first commercial iteration of the Taara chip is anticipated to be available by 2026, marking a significant step toward broader adoption of optical wireless communication technology. This innovation holds the potential to revolutionize global internet connectivity by providing high-speed broadband access to underserved and remote regions, reinforcing Alphabet’s commitment to advancing digital inclusion through cutting-edge technology.
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