Google’s parent company Alphabet has officially spun off Taara — a project aiming to provide internet access using laser beams instead of satellites. Developed under Alphabet’s X lab innovation hub, Taara now operates as an independent company, positioning itself as an alternative to services like Elon Musk’s Starlink.
Alphabet’s decision to separate Taara from its research lab could allow the company to secure external investments and expand more aggressively — it has already received backing from Series X Capital while Alphabet retains a minority stake.
The move could also help Taara expand its existing collaborations, such as those with Bharti Airtel and T-Mobile, while also seeking new telecom partners interested in extending their networks without the need for expensive infrastructure projects.
What Is Taara And How Does It Work?
Unlike Starlink, which relies on a massive network of low-Earth orbit satellites, Taara uses free-space optical communication technology. This FSOC system transmits data via invisible laser beams across the atmosphere, creating an ultra-fast internet connection without requiring costly fiber-optic cables. With speeds reaching 20 Gbps over distances of up to 20km, Taara aims to provide high-speed connectivity to underserved and remote areas.
While laser-based internet technology has existed for years, Taara’s advancements have made it more viable by overcoming key challenges like weather-related disruptions. Its smart terminals, for example, use sensors and algorithms to adjust their alignment in real-time, ensuring a stable and reliable connection.
Could Taara Rival Starlink?
While both companies aim to deliver internet to hard-to-reach places, their approaches are fundamentally different.
Starlink depends on satellites that beam internet signals to ground stations, making it ideal for users in isolated locations including ships and rural communities. Taara, on the other hand, extends existing networks by linking them with laser beams, which can be a more cost-effective and efficient alternative in many regions.
Taara does, however, have its own limitations. Its laser beams require a direct line of sight between terminals, and weather conditions can occasionally impact performance.
Starlink, with its space-based infrastructure, operates in a different regulatory environment that often involves spectrum licensing, satellite launch approvals and geopolitical restrictions that can make deployment complex and costly.
The Future
With Taara stepping into the spotlight as an independent company, the non-traditional internet connectivity landscape is evolving. While Starlink has led the charge with its satellite-based network, competition is mounting.
In Europe, for example, Eutelsat OneWeb has also emerged as a key challenger, looking to expand its presence in Ukraine as an alternative to Starlink, given the geopolitical tensions and uncertainties surrounding the continuity of Starlink’s services.
Ultimately, the success of these different providers will likely hinge on overcoming regulatory challenges and proving that their technology reliably matches the scale and resilience of traditional and established solutions.
