Alphabet, Google’s parent company, is stepping into the ring to take on Elon Musk’s Starlink with its latest venture, Taara Lightbridge. Originally developed under Alphabet’s X “moonshot” division, Taara is now becoming a standalone company, aiming to provide high-speed internet to underserved regions using cutting-edge laser technology. Unlike Starlink’s satellite-based approach, Taara relies on Free Space Optical Communication (FSOC), which beams internet signals through light over long distances.
The announcement, made on Monday, March 17, marks Alphabet’s latest effort to expand global connectivity following the shutdown of its Project Loon balloon initiative in 2021. Led by CEO Mahesh Krishnaswamy, Taara is targeting the 3 billion people worldwide who lack reliable internet access, including 860 million in Africa. The company will compete directly with Starlink, which has already attracted over 5 million subscribers across 125 countries.
Currently operational in 12 countries, Taara is now scaling up its efforts in Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria. The global demand for affordable, high-speed internet has surged, but traditional fiber-optic infrastructure remains underdeveloped in many areas due to high costs and logistical challenges, especially in difficult terrains. Taara’s FSOC technology offers a promising alternative.
Taara’s system works like an “invisible fiber-optic cable in the sky.” Instead of transmitting data through glass fibers, it uses narrow beams of light to achieve speeds of up to 20 gigabits per second over distances of up to 20 kilometers. This method leverages light’s shorter wavelength compared to radio waves, enabling faster data transmission. However, the technology requires a clear line of sight, meaning obstacles like fog, rain, or buildings can interfere with the signal. To address this, Taara has developed advanced AI-driven mirror systems that automatically detect, track, and maintain alignment between connected units, ensuring a stable connection.
“We’ve created a sophisticated set of mirrors that search for the light signal and lock onto it instantly,” Krishnaswamy explained on Google’s Moonshot Podcast. “The system is housed in a traffic light-sized box that can be mounted on rooftops or cell towers.”
Early tests have demonstrated Taara’s potential. In India, the technology successfully connected urban buildings via cell towers. In Africa, it bridged the Congo River, linking Kinshasa and Brazzaville, where laying traditional sub-river fiber cables was impractical.
Taara plans to collaborate with internet service providers, telecom companies like Liquid Telecom (a subsidiary of Cassava Technologies), and governments to bring connectivity to rural villages, disaster-stricken areas, and regions where traditional infrastructure is unfeasible. While fiber-optic cables remain the backbone of global internet networks, their deployment is often prohibitively expensive in remote or challenging locations. Taara’s ground-based approach offers a more cost-effective solution, avoiding the high costs of launching and maintaining satellite systems.
Krishnaswamy also revealed that Taara is working on miniaturizing its technology. “We’re shrinking the Taara terminal from the size of a traffic light to the size of a fingernail,” he said. “This will significantly reduce deployment costs, allowing small devices to be installed on homes without the need for expensive fiber trenching.”
As Starlink looks to the skies, Taara is laser-focused on revolutionizing internet access from the ground up. With its innovative approach, Taara Lightbridge aims to bridge the digital divide and bring high-speed connectivity to millions of people worldwide.
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