Latest news with #Taara
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Elon Musk's Starlink Faces A New Alphabet Rival: This Google-Backed Startup Wants Federal Billions To Beam Internet Through Air
A startup created by Google parent company Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG, GOOGL)) is stepping into the broadband spotlight as it goes after a share of the federal government's $42.5 billion Broadband Equity Access and Deployment program. The company, Taara, says in a blog post that its wireless Lightbridge technology can beam high-speed internet over the air, offering an alternative to both fiber and satellite options. Taara has stated on X that it is 'BEAD-ready,' referencing the initiative backed by the U.S. government. The post followed a major revision to the BEAD rules by the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced in early June, which now encourages technology neutrality rather than prioritizing traditional gigabit fiber. That change gives companies like Taara a chance to compete directly with Elon Musk's Starlink and T-Mobile's (NASDAQ:TMUS) 5G Home Internet for funding. Don't Miss:$100k+ in investable assets? – no cost, no obligation. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in the announcement that the revised BEAD guidelines reflect a shift toward technology neutrality, aiming to deliver high-speed internet more efficiently and cost-effectively without prioritizing any single approach. Taara is led by Mahesh Krishnaswamy, a former Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Google engineer who spun the project out of Alphabet's X moonshot factory after working on its earlier initiative, Loon. He has been focused on bridging global connectivity gaps since his early days in Chennai, India. "Today, there are like 3 billion people still unconnected, and there is a dire need to bring them online," Krishnaswamy told Wired. His mission, he says, is to find scalable ways to bring high-speed internet to the places the fiber can't reach. Rather than laying cable underground or relying on orbiting satellites, Taara says it uses devices installed on towers to send internet signals through the air across distances of up to 20 kilometers. The company positions this technology as a solution to the "middle mile" infrastructure gap, which connects the main internet backbone to local delivery systems like fiber or 5G towers. Trending: Named a TIME Best Invention and Backed by 5,000+ Users, Kara's Air-to-Water Pod Cuts Plastic and Costs — According to Taara, this part of the network is especially crucial in remote and challenging environments, where last-mile connections often remain isolated without an efficient link to the larger grid. "Without it, even the last-mile fiber connections or 5G cell towers remain stranded, unable to reach the broader internet," the company wrote in a LinkedIn post. Alphabet's GFiber says Taara's Lightbridge can deliver speeds of up to 20 Gbps with ultra-low latency and no packet loss under clear weather conditions. This was demonstrated during a test in San Francisco with GFiber, which reported performance that matched high-end wired networks and exceeded traditional wireless radio May, Taara partnered with Digicomm International, a major telecom equipment supplier, to help deploy its Lightbridge system at scale. Digicomm announced that it will deliver Taara's Lightbridge to broadband providers, businesses, and municipalities seeking fast, high-capacity wireless internet. Wired describes Taara as a high-speed, earthbound alternative to Starlink, one that's already shown success at events like Coachella and in cities where laying fiber is cost-prohibitive. Whether the federal government will see Lightbridge as a worthy investment remains to be seen, but Alphabet is clearly placing a bet on the future of middle-mile infrastructure. Read Next: Here's what Americans think you need to be considered wealthy. Image: Shutterstock Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article Elon Musk's Starlink Faces A New Alphabet Rival: This Google-Backed Startup Wants Federal Billions To Beam Internet Through Air originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Digicomm International and Taara Partner to Bring Wireless Optical Communications to Broadband, Enterprise, and Municipal Networks
ENGLEWOOD, Colo., May 05, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Taara, born out of X, Google's Moonshot Factory, has chosen Digicomm International, a leading telecommunications distributor and manufacturer to stock and expand the deployment of Taara's innovative wireless optical communication technology. Through this strategic alliance, Digicomm will deliver Taara Lightbridge, a groundbreaking solution to broadband providers, enterprises, and municipalities seeking reliable high-speed, high-capacity wireless connectivity. Taara Lightbridge uses beams of light to deliver fiber-like speeds through the air, providing an ideal solution for middle-mile connectivity, network resilience, and rapid service restoration. By adding Taara Lightbridge to its portfolio, Digicomm strengthens its commitment to provide customers with innovative and scalable products that address today's growing broadband demands. "Partnering with Taara marks an exciting milestone for Digicomm and our customers," said Jennifer Nelson, FTTx and Wireless Sales Leader at Digicomm International. "Taara's Wireless Optical Communication technology is a perfect complement to our extensive wireless, HFC, and FTTx offerings, empowering service providers to expand faster, more efficiently, and at a lower cost." "We're excited to welcome Digicomm as our Master Value-Added Reseller in the Americas region," said Sanjay Nagpal, Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Partnerships at Taara. "Digicomm's deep regional expertise and strong ecosystem of relationships will accelerate the deployment of Taara's high-speed wireless optical technology where it's needed most. This partnership marks a significant milestone in our mission to expand affordable, reliable internet access with partners seeking innovative, fiber-equivalent solutions." With decades of experience delivering advanced broadband technologies, Digicomm's logistical capabilities and customer reach make it an ideal partner to scale deployment quickly and effectively. Digicomm will stock and support Taara Lightbridge wireless optical solutions, offering link planning services, rapid order fulfillment, and customer service to meet the unique needs of broadband network operators. About Digicomm International Founded in 1993, Digicomm is an industry-leading, value-added broadband distributor and manufacturer – and a key strategic partner to its customers helping them meet the rigorous demands of broadband network operations. Service providers around the world depend on Digicomm's extensive inventory of Wireless, HFC, and FTTx products, representing trusted manufacturers such as AOI, PPC, Commscope, Tarana Wireless, and many others. Digicomm also designs and manufactures products including EDFAs, optical passives and more. For further information, visit About Taara Taara is a moonshot for connectivity, with a mission to extend and amplify the global communications network with beams of light. Born at X, Google's Moonshot Factory, the team combines expertise across disciplines to tackle the world's toughest connectivity challenges. Taara is now deploying wireless optical communications with industry partners in over a dozen countries, expanding access to fast, reliable connectivity. Learn more at View source version on Contacts Digicomm Internationalpressinquiries@ Taara Connect, Sign in to access your portfolio
Business Wire
05-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Digicomm International and Taara Partner to Bring Wireless Optical Communications to Broadband, Enterprise, and Municipal Networks
ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Taara, born out of X, Google's Moonshot Factory, has chosen Digicomm International, a leading telecommunications distributor and manufacturer to stock and expand the deployment of Taara's innovative wireless optical communication technology. Digicomm's partnership with Taara brings next-gen wireless optical technology to broadband, enterprise, and municipal networks. Share Through this strategic alliance, Digicomm will deliver Taara Lightbridge, a groundbreaking solution to broadband providers, enterprises, and municipalities seeking reliable high-speed, high-capacity wireless connectivity. Taara Lightbridge uses beams of light to deliver fiber-like speeds through the air, providing an ideal solution for middle-mile connectivity, network resilience, and rapid service restoration. By adding Taara Lightbridge to its portfolio, Digicomm strengthens its commitment to provide customers with innovative and scalable products that address today's growing broadband demands. 'Partnering with Taara marks an exciting milestone for Digicomm and our customers,' said Jennifer Nelson, FTTx and Wireless Sales Leader at Digicomm International. 'Taara's Wireless Optical Communication technology is a perfect complement to our extensive wireless, HFC, and FTTx offerings, empowering service providers to expand faster, more efficiently, and at a lower cost.' 'We're excited to welcome Digicomm as our Master Value-Added Reseller in the Americas region,' said Sanjay Nagpal, Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Partnerships at Taara. 'Digicomm's deep regional expertise and strong ecosystem of relationships will accelerate the deployment of Taara's high-speed wireless optical technology where it's needed most. This partnership marks a significant milestone in our mission to expand affordable, reliable internet access with partners seeking innovative, fiber-equivalent solutions.' With decades of experience delivering advanced broadband technologies, Digicomm's logistical capabilities and customer reach make it an ideal partner to scale deployment quickly and effectively. Digicomm will stock and support Taara Lightbridge wireless optical solutions, offering link planning services, rapid order fulfillment, and customer service to meet the unique needs of broadband network operators. About Digicomm International Founded in 1993, Digicomm is an industry-leading, value-added broadband distributor and manufacturer – and a key strategic partner to its customers helping them meet the rigorous demands of broadband network operations. Service providers around the world depend on Digicomm's extensive inventory of Wireless, HFC, and FTTx products, representing trusted manufacturers such as AOI, PPC, Commscope, Tarana Wireless, and many others. Digicomm also designs and manufactures products including EDFAs, optical passives and more. For further information, visit About Taara Taara is a moonshot for connectivity, with a mission to extend and amplify the global communications network with beams of light. Born at X, Google's Moonshot Factory, the team combines expertise across disciplines to tackle the world's toughest connectivity challenges. Taara is now deploying wireless optical communications with industry partners in over a dozen countries, expanding access to fast, reliable connectivity. Learn more at
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Google's Starlink Competitor Won't Trash Space With Thousands Of Satellites
Alphabet, Google's parent company, announced on Monday that it is spinning off wireless communications project Taara into an independent company. Taara transmits data by shooting lasers between terminals mounted on towers planted on terra firma, a far cry from Elon Musk's atmosphere-melting satellites. Satellite communications constellations today could be compared to highways or nuclear weapons in the 1950s. Every major player on the international stage, including Apple, can't envision a future without it despite the massive investment for development and the potential to destroy large swaths of the planet. Taara's approach would remove the need to constantly replenish a decaying satellite fleet like Starlink. Taara came to fruition in Google X's Moonshot Factory, the same incubator that birthed Waymo. The project aimed to affordably fill the connectivity gaps in the planet's high-speed internet network. Taara's efforts center around silicon photonic chips, technology that can send and receive data through the air. The system, called Lightbridge, shoots very narrow, invisible light beams between terminals to transmit data at speeds up to 20 gigabits per second over 12 miles. Read more: Even SpaceX Would Apparently Rather Use A Ford F-150 Lightning Than Tesla Cybertruck The Taara Lightbridge is envisioned as a much cheaper alternative to laying fiber optic cables. If it's cheaper than laying a cable, it must be pennies compared to a reusable rocket launch. According to the Verge, the project trailed the system in two densely-populated places where traditional networks would be cost-prohibitive: Kinshasa, the Congolese capital, and the Coachella Festival. The issues with Starlink, Taara's largest competitor, are becoming evident as its satellite constellation scales up. The fleet has around 6,000 satellites with aspirations of 42,000 boxes swirling around our blue marble. At full scale, there could be as many as 8,000 Starlink sats burning up in the atmosphere every year, which could spew over 1,000 tons of aluminum oxide into the atmosphere. The absurdly high levels of aluminum oxide pollution would deplete the ozone layer, the crucial barrier protecting the planet from the Sun's ultraviolet radiation. However, Taara wouldn't be able to completely supplant Starlink. Governments see military value in having a satellite communications constellation. The People's Republic of China is developing its own constellation to match the capabilities that Starlink offers the American military. A ground-based system can't provide the same instant global connectivity. For Taara's network to expand, new Lightbridge terminals need to be installed by connectivity is need. Those towers would also quickly become targets during an armed conflict, like airports or bridges. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Yahoo
No Fiber Needed: New Chip Uses Light to Beam 10Gig Speeds Through the Air
PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing. A project from Google's parent company, Alphabet, is debuting a new chip that promises to deliver gigabit internet speeds over the air — no cable needed. The technology comes from Taara, which has been using light beams to deliver high-speed internet without relying on traditional optical fiber. Instead, the team created equipment that can sit on a cell tower and beam light signals through the air, transmitting 20 gigabits per second to another receiver as far as 20 kilometers away. The Taara project has since developed a way to condense the equipment, making it easier to install while also reducing the complexity. 'We've taken most of the core functionality of the Taara Lightbridge—which is the size of a traffic light—and shrunken it down to the size of a fingernail,' Taara General Manager Mahesh Krishnaswamy wrote in a blog post. The resulting 'silicon photonic chip' still uses light to beam internet data through the air. But it now uses software to 'to steer, track, and correct the beam of light' through hundreds of tiny light emitters embedded on the processor. In contrast, the original system relied on physical hardware, such as mirrors and sensors, to optimize the beams. 'In tests at the Moonshot Factory labs, our team has successfully transmitted data at 10 Gbps (gigabits per second) over distances of 1 kilometer outdoors using two Taara chips. We believe this is the first time silicon photonics chips have transmitted such high-capacity data outdoors at this distance,' the blog post adds. The Taara team views the technology as a promising way to expand high-speed internet in underserved areas, without needing to lay expensive optical fiber. 'These units can be installed in hours instead of the days, months, or even years it can take to lay fiber,' Krishnaswamy wrote. The team also told Wired that Taara could rival SpaceX's Starlink, which harnesses orbiting satellites and radio waves to beam high-speed internet to users on the ground. The problem is that Starlink's capacity can struggle if it's oversubscribed in populated areas. 'We can offer 10, if not 100 times more bandwidth to an end user than a typical Starlink antenna, and do it for a fraction of the cost,' Krishnaswamy told Wired. That said, the technology does face some challenges. For example, bad weather from fog, rain and even flying birds can all potentially disrupt Taara's equipment from beaming the high-speed internet data. But the Taara team has been coming up with mitigations, according to Wired. Expect the next-generation Taara chip to launch sometime next year. But a lot remains unclear, including its cost and where and how the technology will be deployed. In the meantime, the Taara team is working to extend the range and capacity of the photonic chips with a new model that'll boast thousands of emitters on the silicon. As part of Taara's development, the project has already deployed its optical communication links in more than a dozen countries.
