Google’s Taara Lightbridge Takes On Starlink With Laser-powered Internet

Taara Lightbridge, a project originally developed under its X “moonshot” division, will become a standalone company, challenging Starlink in the race to connect underserved regions with high-speed internet. Taara’suses Free Space Optical Communication (FSOC) technology to beam high-speed internet through light over long distances, unlike satellite broadband. The move signals Alphabet’s renewed push into connectivity solutions after the closure of its Project Loon balloon venture in 2021. CEO Mahesh Krishnaswamy says Taara is targeting 3 billion people globally, including 860 million in Africa without reliable internet access. The company will compete directly with Starlink, which has amassed over 5 million subscribers across 125 countries. While still in testing, Taara is operational in 12 countries globally and is now focusing on scaling its operations across Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria.

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