Alphabet, the parent company of Google, has announced the spin-off of Taara, a groundbreaking wireless communications project, into an independent company. Unlike traditional satellite-based internet services, Taara relies on laser technology to transmit data across ground-based terminals, offering a potentially more sustainable and cost-effective alternative to satellite constellations like Starlink.
Developed within Google X’s Moonshot Factory, the same incubator that launched Waymo, Taara’s mission is to bridge connectivity gaps in high-speed internet networks worldwide. Its core technology, Lightbridge, uses silicon photonic chips to transmit data via ultra-thin, invisible light beams between fixed terminals. These beams can carry data at speeds of up to 20 gigabits per second over distances of 12 miles, providing a fiber-like internet experience without the need for physical cables.
Laying fiber optic cables in certain regions—whether due to cost, geography, or urban density—can be prohibitively expensive. Taara’s laser-based approach offers a much cheaper alternative. As reported by The Verge, the project has already been tested in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, and at the Coachella Festival, two locations where traditional networks would have been too costly to implement.
In contrast, Starlink’s satellite constellation requires a continuous investment in rocket launches to replace aging satellites. With plans to expand from 6,000 to 42,000 satellites, experts estimate that up to 8,000 Starlink satellites could burn up in the atmosphere each year, releasing over 1,000 tons of aluminum oxide—a pollutant that could harm the ozone layer, which protects Earth from ultraviolet radiation.
Despite its advantages, Taara is not a direct replacement for satellite internet. Governments view satellite networks as strategic assets due to their global military applications. For instance, China is developing its own satellite network to rival Starlink’s military-grade capabilities.
Additionally, while satellite networks provide instant worldwide coverage, Taara’s system requires physical infrastructure—each Lightbridge terminal must be installed in the specific locations where service is needed. This makes it vulnerable in war zones, as communication towers could become targets in the same way as airports or bridges during conflicts.
