Google’s Taara project, developed within Alphabet’s X lab, is working on a new way to deliver internet using beams of light instead of cables buried in the ground. This could make fast Internet cheaper and easier to get, especially in places that don’t have good Internet today.
The Tiny Chip That Makes It Work
The key to Taara is a special chip that’s now the size of a fingernail, much smaller than earlier versions that were as big as traffic lights. This chip controls beams of light that carry internet data through the air.
“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,” said Taara General Manager Mahesh Krishnaswamy.
In testing, the team has sent data at speeds of 10 billion bits per second (10 Gbps) over distances of about 0.62 miles (1 kilometer). The technology can potentially reach speeds up to 20 Gbps and distances up to 12.4 miles (20 kilometers).
How It Works in Simple Terms
Think of regular internet cables, which use light traveling through glass fibers. Taara does the same thing but without the cable – the light travels through the air between two points that can “see” each other.
The chip uses software to control tiny light emitters that aim the beam exactly where it needs to go, instead of using mechanical parts like mirrors.
Real-World Uses Today
Taara is already working in more than 12 countries. One success story is in Africa, where they connected two cities across the Congo River (Brazzaville and Kinshasa), where the internet used to cost five times more in Kinshasa before Taara was implemented.
The technology was also used at the 2024 Coachella music festival to help handle all the internet traffic, and Google uses it on its own campus, where running cables would be difficult.
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Why It’s Better Than Cables in Some Cases
Taara has some big advantages over traditional internet cables:
- Much faster to set up: Can be installed in hours instead of the months or years needed to dig and lay cables.
- Less expensive: No need for costly construction to bury cables.
- Works in difficult places: Can connect areas where digging for cables isn’t practical.
How It Compares to Satellite Internet
Krishnaswamy says Taara could be better than satellite services like Starlink in crowded 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.”
This is because satellite internet has to share its capacity among all users in an area.
Challenges to Solve
Taara still faces some hurdles:
- Needs clear line of sight: The receivers must be able to “see” each other.
- Weather problems: Fog, heavy rain, and even birds flying by can interrupt the light beams.
- Currently expensive: Professor Mohamed-Slim Alouini from King Abdullah University described Taara as “a Ferrari” of wireless optical systems, noting that a test setup costs around $30,000.
The Future of Internet
Astro Teller, the head of Google’s X lab, believes we’re running out of radio bandwidth for wireless communications. He thinks 6G might be the last generation to use radio waves, with 7G potentially using light instead.
“Traditional radio frequency bands are congested and running out of available bandwidth,” Teller explains.
Both Teller and Krishnaswamy imagine a future with thousands of these tiny chips creating networks of light beams connecting phones, computers, cars, and more.
The next generation of Taara chips is expected to arrive next year, with even more range and capacity.
Frequently Asked Questions About Google’s Taara
Taara is Google’s project that sends internet through beams of light in the air instead of through cables in the ground. It uses a tiny chip to aim and control light beams between two points. As long as these two points can “see” each other, they can send internet data back and forth at speeds up to 20 Gbps over distances up to 12.4 miles (20 kilometers).
Regular internet often uses fiber optic cables, which are glass strands buried underground that carry light signals. Taara uses the same light technology but sends it through the air instead of through cables. This means Taara can be set up in hours instead of the months it takes to dig and lay cables, making it much cheaper and faster to deploy in many situations.
In crowded areas, Taara might work better than satellite internet. According to Taara’s manager Mahesh Krishnaswamy, “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.” This is because satellite internet has to divide its capacity among all users in an area, while Taara can provide a dedicated connection.
Taara needs a clear line of sight between its connection points, so anything that blocks this can cause problems. This includes:
- Thick fog or heavy rain
- Birds flying through the beam
- Buildings or trees that block the beam’s path
The team is working on ways to overcome these issues. Also, right now the technology is still expensive (around $30,000 for a setup), but they’re working to make it more affordable.
Taara is working in over 12 countries already. Some examples include:
- Connecting two cities across the Congo River in Africa (Brazzaville and Kinshasa), where internet used to cost five times more in Kinshasa
- Boosting internet capacity at the 2024 Coachella music festival
- Connecting buildings on Google’s own campus where running cables would be difficult
Experts think light-based technology like Taara could be very important for future internet. Google’s Astro Teller believes we’re running out of radio bandwidth for wireless communications, and 6G might be the last generation to use radio waves. The future (maybe 7G) could use light beams instead, with thousands of these tiny chips creating networks connecting phones, computers, cars, and more. The next version of Taara chips should arrive next year with better range and capacity.
