Alphabet Spins Off Taara As Independent Company To Compete with Starlink In Internet Expansion

Alphabet’s light-based internet project, Taara, has officially spun off into an independent company, marking a major step in its mission to deliver high-speed data through laser transmission technology.

Initially developed within Alphabet’s X moonshot division, Taara offers an innovative alternative to fiber-optic networks and satellite-based services like SpaceX’s Starlink.

Going forward, Alphabet will retain a minority stake in Taara, while Series X Capital has emerged as a key investor. The company, which employs around two dozen people, has already deployed its technology in over a dozen countries.

Unlike traditional internet infrastructure, which relies on fiber-optic cables, Taara transmits data through a focused beam of light between two terminals.

These traffic light-sized devices can be mounted on rooftops, towers, or other elevated structures, creating a wireless optical network capable of speeds up to 20 Gbps over distances of 20 km (12.5 miles).

The system is particularly useful in locations where laying fiber is impractical, such as across rivers, valleys, and remote islands.

Taara recently miniaturized its technology into a silicon photonic chip, which is expected to launch as a commercial product in 2026.

Both Taara and Starlink aim to expand internet access to underserved areas, but they rely on different technologies:

Starlink (by SpaceX) uses low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to beam internet signals to dish antennas on the ground. Starlink already has a constellation of over 7,000 satellites in orbit.

While Taara uses ground-based laser transmission, avoiding the high costs of satellite launches and providing more direct, high-bandwidth connections.

According to Taara’s founder, Mahesh Krishnaswamy, the company’s tech can deliver “10 to 100 times more bandwidth than a typical Starlink antenna at a fraction of the cost.”

Taara’s system has already been deployed in India, Kenya, Ghana, Australia, and Fiji, with plans to scale further.

Beyond rural areas, the tech has proven effective in urban environments and temporary installations, such as at the Coachella Music Festival, where it boosted network capacity and reduced congestion on mobile networks.

Additionally, Taara partnered with telecom giant Bharti Airtel in 2023 to explore rural connectivity solutions.

While Taara’s future as an independent company remains to be seen, its innovative approach and cost-effective connectivity solutions could make it a serious competitor in the growing alternative internet technology market.