Taara presents a wireless communication system that enables data speeds of up to 25 Gbps over the air. The technology, Taara Beam, uses light rather than radio signals and is intended to offer an alternative to fiber optics in areas where physical infrastructure is difficult or slow to deploy.
At the heart of the new solution is the Taara Photonics Platform, which combines the key functions of optical communication into a compact silicon chip. Instead of mechanical components to align light beams, Taara uses an optical phased array with more than 1,000 small light sources controlled electronically. This enables accurate tracking and control of light while the hardware becomes smaller and simpler.
No excavation work or licenses required
Taara Beam transmits data via near-infrared light. This is the same type of light used in fiber-optic connections, but in free space. The system supports bidirectional connections over distances of up to ten kilometers and, according to Taara, achieves speeds of up to 25 Gbps with low latency. The equipment is housed in a shoebox-sized enclosure. The system can be installed within hours on existing infrastructure such as roofs, masts, and light poles. No excavation, spectrum licenses, or right-of-way permits are required for deployment.
The technology is intended for scenarios in which traditional networks cannot be scaled up quickly enough. This applies to urban environments, business parks, data center campuses, and temporary networks, among others. Taara sees applications in small-cell backhaul and fronthaul, where high bandwidth and low latency are required. But also in environments where AI-driven systems depend on real-time data traffic.
The new solution builds on Taara Lightbridge, an earlier wireless optical system already used to establish connections across difficult terrain such as rivers, mountains, and densely built-up urban areas. Lightbridge has been rolled out in more than 20 countries in collaboration with telecom operators such as T-Mobile, SoftBank, Airtel, and Digicel. Whereas Lightbridge was mainly used to bridge missing connections, Beam is designed to increase network density and flexibility within existing infrastructures.
Taara originated from X, Google’s Moonshot Factory, and has been operating as an independent company since 2025. The company is financed with venture capital, with Series X Capital among the investors. Alphabet, Google’s parent company, retained a minority stake in the spin-off.