According to X, the Taara chip is the size of a fingernail. (Image credit: Google X)
Google X has announced the Taara chip, the latest innovation aimed at using light energy to provide low-cost, wireless, high-speed Internet.
The chip, which is about the size of a fingernail, uses programmable light emitters to transmit encoded data via beams of light between two points. In testing, the researchers successfully transmitted data at 10 gigabits per second (Gbps) over a distance of 0.6 miles (1 km) outdoors using two Taara chips.
“We believe this is the first time that silicon photonic chips have transmitted such large amounts of data in the open air over such a distance,” said Mahesh Krishnaswamy, CEO of Taara.
Researchers at Google’s X research division hope that Taara will be able to deliver internet speeds comparable to fiber-optic connections in areas where traditional fiber-optic cables are difficult to install. These cables are typically buried deep underground, making them impractical for remote areas or difficult terrain like mountains and forests. But that’s not a deal-breaker for Taara.
Additionally, because the light frequencies Taara uses do not overlap with radio frequency bands like 5G, Taara does not face competing signals taking up bandwidth.
He added that the goal was to make high-speed connectivity more accessible and easier to deploy by reducing the size and cost of infrastructure, in particular by creating a mesh network of multiple Taara devices connected together.
These devices will be able to communicate directly, providing high-speed and easily scalable coverage in areas with Taara nodes.
“By deploying chips across a global mesh network, we see opportunities to deliver high-speed internet to underserved areas, reimagine how data centers are built and operated, enable faster and more secure connectivity for autonomous vehicles, and more.”
Data is transmitted at the speed of light
Fiber-optic cables contain tiny plastic or glass strands that transmit data using pulses of light. They are highly efficient at transmitting high-speed data over long distances—much better than older copper cables, which transmit data in the form of slower electrical signals that are prone to interference.
Taara also transmits data as optical signals; however, it eliminates the need for underground cables and networks that require physical maintenance. This means installation can take “hours, rather than the days, months or even years it might take to lay fiber,” Krishnaswamy said.
The Taara chip is actually a newer, smaller version of an existing Google X invention called the Taara Lightbridge, which is roughly the size of a traffic light.
Lightbridge was a physical device and mechanisms consisting of “mirrors, sensors, precision optics, and intelligent software” to direct light beams to the right places. When two beams lock onto each other, they form a secure connection capable of transmitting data at up to 20 Gbps over distances of up to 12.4 miles (20 km).
Krishnaswamy said the Taara chip will be available in 2026 in the next X product, details of which the company has not yet disclosed. At the same time, Google's research division has invited researchers and developers to contact it to discuss potential applications.
Sourse: www.livescience.com
