Taara, a Google X graduate now operating as a spin-out, is showcasing its wireless optical communications technology to enterprise and US federal stakeholders in Texas alongside AT&T and Nokia Federal Solutions.
The demonstration, held at Texas Tech University, sent data across 14 kilometres between a university rooftop and a mobile cell site known as a “cell on wheels”, according to the companies. The aim is to show how wireless optical links could extend networks or provide an additional path where trenching fibre or accessing licensed spectrum is difficult.
The showcase follows a previous deployment involving AT&T at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where Taara says two of its Lightbridge links were installed within hours to support connectivity for more than 80,000 spectators. Taara said the links delivered up to 20 Gbps during the event and were paired with a millimetre-wave radio backup to provide what it described as “five nines” (99.999%) availability across a hybrid connection.
“When tens of thousands of people come together for a global event, the network has to be ready when they are,” said Mahesh Krishnaswamy, Founder and CEO of Taara. “At the largest sporting event in the world, AT&T deployed our links in a matter of hours. Now, we’re continuing to demonstrate what that same flexibility can mean for businesses and governments. We believe the capacity to build, serve, and grow should reach far beyond the places where laying fiber is practical.”
AT&T said the technology provides another option for high-capacity connectivity where deployment timelines are tight. “Taara Lightbridge gives us another way to deliver high-capacity connectivity where our customers need it, including locations with demanding deployment schedules,” said Aldo Adriazola, Senior Principal Member of Technical Staff at AT&T. “Our special events team valued both the performance of the links at the tournament and the Taara team’s technical expertise and on-site support. This demonstration builds on that experience, showing how optical links can work alongside other technologies to meet a wider range of enterprise and federal networking needs.”
Taara said Lightbridge terminals can transmit and receive up to 20 Gbps over distances of up to 20 kilometres where there is clear line of sight, using narrow beams of light through the air. The company also said “hundreds” of its links are deployed across more than 20 countries.
While the announcement positions the technology as a way to avoid the delays and disruption associated with new fibre construction, it also comes as network operators face increasing capacity requirements driven by artificial intelligence workloads and other data-intensive services. Taara said AT&T’s Enterprise and Labs teams are evaluating the links for broader network use cases.
Taara also outlined work on an integrated photonics platform it calls Taara Photonics, which it said uses an optical phased array to steer and track light and correct for atmospheric effects using software-controlled emitters.
