Alphabet Spins Off Starlink Competitor
Alphabet has spun off a division of its so-called “X disruptive technology factory,” which specializes in developing laser-based data transmission technologies, into an independent company called Taara. The new company is considered a competitor to SpaceX’s Starlink satellite service in providing internet to hard-to-reach and rural areas.
Taara is based on the Loon project to distribute internet from balloons, which was closed in 2021. The system of sensors, optics and mirrors allows data to be transmitted at a speed of 20 Gbps between terminals over a distance of 20 km, replacing fiber optic lines and providing communication at a lower cost.
The startup plans to create a tiny silicon-photonic chip that will replace bulky mirrors and lenses of terminals and provide the ability to connect multiple times to a single source. In the future, laser LiFi technology may replace WiFi radio communications in offices.
While Starlink sells subscriptions directly to consumers, Taara partners with major telecom companies like Bharti Airtel and T-Mobile to supplement their core fiber networks in remote or densely populated areas where traditional lines are impossible or too expensive to install.
