Taara, recently spun out of Alphabet’s X Development subsidiary, has partnered with Digicomm International, a telecommunications distributor and manufacturer. The companies are teaming to stock and expand the deployment of Taara’s wireless optical communication technology. Through the partnership, Digicomm will deliver Taara Lightbridge, the company’s first-generation optical communication system, to broadband providers, enterprises, and municipalities seeking reliable high-speed, high-capacity wireless connectivity. Taara Lightbridge uses a system of mirrors, sensors, precision optics, and hardware to steer light. The technology was developed to transmit data into areas where deploying fiber is too difficult or expensive. Lightbridge is able to transmit data at speeds as high as 20 Gbps over distances up to 20 km. Earlier this year, Taara demonstrated a silicon photonics chip capable of transmitting high-speed data through the air. The device uses an optical phased array in place of the more traditional employed by Lightbridge to steer, track, and correct light beams with high levels of precision. The company expects the chip to be available in its next product launch in 2026.
