Alphabet has announced the spin-out of its Taara project, a venture utilizing laser technology to provide high-speed internet connectivity to underserved regions. Taara, formerly a “moonshot” project within Alphabet’s X, is now an independent company, backed by a funding round led by Series X Capital.
Taara CEO Mahesh Krishnaswamy stated that the company’s technology aims to address the growing global demand for data by offering an alternative to traditional fiber and radio frequency solutions. Taara’s system employs narrow light beams to transmit data at speeds of up to 20 gigabits per second over distances of up to 20 kilometers (12.4 miles). This tower-based optical technology offers a rapid deployment alternative to fiber optic cable installation, particularly in areas where traditional infrastructure is impractical or cost-prohibitive.
While Taara’s technology differs from satellite-based internet services like Elon Musk’s Starlink, Krishnaswamy has positioned Taara as a potential competitor. He highlighted Taara’s ability to deliver significantly higher bandwidth to end-users at a potentially lower cost.
Taara’s technology builds upon the legacy of Alphabet’s Project Loon, which utilized high-altitude balloons for internet connectivity. Although Project Loon was shuttered in 2021, its laser communication technology has been repurposed for Taara’s tower-based system.
Taara has already deployed hundreds of links in over a dozen countries, establishing partnerships with telecommunications companies such as Airtel, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Liberty Networks, T-Mobile, and Vodafone. The company currently employs two dozen people and operates in 12 countries.
Alphabet retains a minority stake in Taara, demonstrating its continued interest in the project’s potential. Taara’s emergence as an independent company signifies Alphabet’s ongoing commitment to exploring innovative solutions for global connectivity challenges.
