Alphabet's Taara chip uses light beams to provide high-speed internet

Alphabet's Taara chip enables high-speed internet via light beams, promising global connectivity improvements.

: Alphabet unveiled the Taara chip, part of a project under X, its moonshot factory, and aims to provide low-cost, high-speed internet through light beams. Unlike the bulky first-generation Taara Lightbridge, the fingernail-sized photonic chip doesn't require physical alignment, relying on software instead. Capable of data speeds up to 20 Gbps over 20 kilometers, it promises quicker installation than traditional fiber. Expected to be available in 2026, the team is working on enhancing its range and capacity.

Alphabet introduced the Taara chip, a component of a project from its X moonshot factory, aimed at providing affordable high-speed internet by utilizing light beams. Initially developed for X's Project Loon, the technology can transmit data at speeds reaching 20 Gbps across distances up to 20 kilometers, similar to fiber optics but without the need for cables.

The Taara chip represents a significant miniaturization advancement, being as small as a fingernail, compared to the previous Taara Lightbridge, which was the size of a traffic light. Unlike its predecessor, the chip uses software for alignment, allowing for a more straightforward installation that could take just days instead of the months or years required for laying traditional fiber.

In laboratory tests, Taara's team transmitted data at 10 Gbps over one kilometer using two chips and is actively pursuing ways to enhance the chip's capabilities further. With an anticipated release date in 2026, the aim is to create a version with thousands of emitters to improve both capacity and range, pushing the potential for global connectivity improvements.