A small team of engineers from California believes it can surpass one of the most ambitious Internet projects ever launched. With several purpose-built devices and a new name: Taara, this team stood out from the Alphabet company, with the goal of fundamentally changing the way the world accesses the Internet. This time, the solution doesn’t come from space, but from Earth.
The Mountain View-based group has developed an Internet system that uses laser beams instead of fiber optic cables or satellites. Their claim is ambitious: to enable a connection faster than a standard Starlink antenna, at a fraction of the cost. On March 17, 2025, Taara officially became an independent company, opening the door to direct investment
Taara transmits data using focused light beams, known as Lightbridge devices, which can achieve a range of up to 20 kilometers at speeds of up to 20 gigabits per second. Each device, the size of a traffic light, can be mounted on roofs or poles, with the necessary direct visibility between points.
Unlike classic optical networks, which require digging and laying cables, the Taara system is installed without any construction work. This makes it ideal for complex terrain: across rivers, valleys, between buildings or in remote regions with poor infrastructure.
Although the concept of optical communication through free space has existed since the end of the nineties, earlier solutions had serious limitations due to weather conditions and unstable optical characteristics. Taara claims these issues are overcome thanks to advanced laser beam tracking and a robust engineering design that ensures a stable connection.
Taara wants to redefine the global internet infrastructure
Before becoming independent, Taara quietly tested her network in real-world conditions. In Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the system filled key gaps in the communications infrastructure. In Nairobi, he connected neglected city districts, while in the United States he provided high-speed Internet at the Coachella festival in California.
The company says that these tests proved that its system can provide a fast and stable connection where installing cables would be too expensive or technically infeasible. The goal is not to replace satellite Internet, but to solve the problem of the so-called “last mile” and connecting locations that need the connection the most.
Founder and CEO Mahesh Krishnaswamy said Taara is targeting regions long neglected by traditional providers. According to him, the system can offer a connection up to 10 or even 100 times faster than a typical Starlink antenna, with significantly lower costs.
By 2026, Taara plans to take a further step forward in the form of a miniaturized version of the Lightbridge system: a microchip the size of a fingertip. This solution eliminates the need for bulky brackets and optics, significantly reducing installation costs and easier placement.
The chip will use the part of the electromagnetic spectrum between infrared and visible light, while maintaining a range of up to 20 kilometers. The transition from complex systems with mirrors to an almost “plug and play” solution is a key step towards mass application.
Taara’s origins trace back to Alphabet’s Project Loon, which attempted to provide internet via a balloon in the stratosphere. After that project was shut down in 2021, Krishnaswamy and his team adapted the optical technology for terrestrial use, creating Taara.
Although often compared to Starlink, Taara has a different role in the Internet ecosystem. While Starlink provides global coverage via low-orbit satellites, Taara connects specific points on the ground: villages, cities or events, where local infrastructure makes more sense.
Eric Teller, who leads “moonshot” projects in Alphabet’s X division, assessed the spin-off of Taara as a strategic move that allows for faster expansion and easier access to capital.
Today, Taara operates in 12 countries and employs around 20 people. Although the details of production and prices have not yet been announced, the company’s goal is clear: to expand access to the Internet and reduce the digital divide for the approximately three billion people who still do not have a reliable Internet connection, writes Futura-Sciences.