Google unveils tiny chip for fast, cable-free internet via light beams

Alphabet’s Taara division, known for pioneering wireless optical communication to connect remote regions, has unveiled a groundbreaking advancement—a tiny silicon photonic chip capable of delivering high-speed internet through beams of light. This innovation could revolutionize internet accessibility in underserved areas by eliminating the need for traditional fiber-optic cables.

Taara initially developed the Lightbridge system, which uses precisely aligned transmitters mounted on tall poles or rooftops to beam light between locations, much like fiber-optic cables but without physical wires. The full-size Lightbridge system can deliver speeds of 20 Gbps over distances of up to 12.4 miles (20 km). Now, the team has managed to miniaturize this technology into a fingernail-sized chip that currently supports 10 Gbps transmission over a distance of 0.62 miles (1 km).

Taara’s general manager, Mahesh Krishnaswamy, explained that the chip replaces much of the mechanical hardware in the Lightbridge system with sophisticated software to steer and control the light beams. “While the Taara Lightbridge steers the light physically, with Taara’s chip we’ve removed many of the mechanical components and designed a solid-state solution for automatic beam steering,” said Krishnaswamy. The core of this innovation lies in an optical phased array, which precisely steers, tracks, and corrects light direction using software-controlled light emitters.

Each Taara chip contains hundreds of these tiny light emitters. By controlling when each emitter activates, the system can manipulate the wavefront of the light and direct it with remarkable accuracy. If further developed to match the Lightbridge’s capabilities, this compact chip could make it significantly easier and cheaper to deploy Taara’s wireless optical internet technology, particularly in areas where laying fiber-optic cables is impractical.

Taara’s technology has already made an impact in numerous countries, enabling local networking businesses to provide connectivity without relying on major internet service providers. As of July 2023, the technology has been deployed in ‘hundreds of communities in 13 countries,’ including India, Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Rwanda, and New Zealand. The initiative also includes Taara Share, a platform active in Ghana and Kenya that allows residents to sell fast, low-cost internet access to others via a mobile app and locally installed routers. This system has created economic opportunities and enhanced digital inclusion in areas where mobile connectivity is unreliable.

“We’ve helped create new streams of income for entrepreneurs and new opportunities for folks who otherwise wouldn’t reap the benefits afforded by reliable internet access,” said Taara in a statement. “Taara Share has not only created livelihoods for local entrepreneurs but also enabled remote work opportunities, enriched education for students, and much more.”

Looking ahead, Krishnaswamy believes the new chip could unlock even broader applications beyond internet connectivity. Potential uses include improving data center efficiency, enhancing autonomous vehicle communications, and expanding high-speed access to even more underserved regions. The Taara team is now working on extending the chip’s range and capacity by increasing the number of emitters. A second-generation version is already in development, with plans to integrate it into Taara’s next product launch next year.

With continued advancements, Taara’s tiny chip could play a crucial role in bridging the digital divide, offering a scalable, cost-effective, and high-speed internet solution where traditional infrastructure falls short.