Google Tech: How Airtel’s plan to use Google’s internet tech Taara has hit a roadblock

Bharti Airtel‘s plans to use Google parent Alphabet’s laser internet technology, Taara, has reportedly hit roadblock. Airtel planned to use Taara to support its 4G and 5G operations in India. Accordimg to a report in Economic Times, rhe Sunil Mittal-led telecom operator is not convinced about the effectiveness of using Taara as a wireless backhaul technology commercially in India.The report quotes people aware of the matter.
According to the report, the ongoing field trials have indicated that the tech may not work efficiently in inclement weather in rural and hard-to-reach places. This may affect the mobile broadband experience for 4G/5G users in these areas. Airtel insiders reportedly believe that more extensive joint field trials are required to assess the technical and commercial viability of the tech.
What Airtel spokesperson said
“Project Taara is currently being tested jointly with Alphabet in multiple geographies across different weather cycles to assess feasibility in offering connectivity to fibre-dark areas,” an Airtel spokesperson told ET.
What is Google’s Taara
Taara is laser technology developed at Google parent Alphabet’s research lab, ‘X’. The technology uses light beams to transmit data at 20Gbps speeds. The Taara technology was born in the year 2016. This was after Alphabet’s Project Loon failed. Also known as Baloon Project, Project Loon used high-altitude helium balloons in the stratosphere to deliver fast wireless internet in rural and remote locations.
In Tara Technology, light is used for fast data transmissions over air in the form of narrow, invisible beams. The beams travel between Taara terminals to create links, resulting in high-bandwidth connections. Mirrors are used to connect and align the light beams.