Google has revealed more details about its highly anticipated Taara high-speed, light-based internet chip. Promising speeds of up to 20Gbps, this new technology could redefine how we connect to and use the internet.
The new chip should be ready for use in 2026 and could find applications in autonomous vehicles as well as home internet.
X, Alphabet’s moonshot factory, has been developing the Taara chip for years. Now, thanks to advancements in silicon photonics, the project has made significant progress.
Data transmission through light beams
Alphabet explains that this chip transmits data through the air using beams of light. Unlike its predecessor, it eliminates the need for complex mirrors and other hardware for directing light.
The chip operates similarly to fiber optic cables, using light to carry data but without the need for physical wiring.
Super fast internet is on the way
The new chip incorporates advanced software to steer light beams precisely where needed. Additionally, it is significantly smaller than earlier versions.
Originally, Taara Lightbridge technology was about the size of a traffic light. Now, the latest chip is approximately the size of a fingernail, making it far more convenient for deployment.
Taara was initially designed for X’s Project Loon internet-broadcasting balloons. However, Alphabet discontinued that project in 2021 to focus solely on Taara.
The chip, or its predecessor, has already been tested for beaming broadband across the Congo River and the streets of Nairobi.
Since Taara relies on light as its transmission medium, it offers near-infinite bandwidth in the middle of the electromagnetic spectrum—between infrared and visible light.
This invisible part of the spectrum enables Taara to transmit data at speeds of up to 20Gbps over distances of up to 12.4 miles (20 km) simultaneously. Moreover, the chip can be installed and set up within hours, unlike fiber infrastructure, which can take months or even years.
A game-changer for global connectivity
“Today, about 3 billion people are still unconnected, and there is a dire need to bring them online,” Taara General Manager Mahesh Krishnaswamy told Wired. He noted that even those with internet access often experience painfully slow speeds, barely enough to support streaming.
Other initiatives, like Starlink, have made progress but don’t fully solve connectivity issues. In densely populated areas, multiple users share transmission capacity, leading to reduced bandwidth and slower speeds.
“We can offer 10, if not 100 times more bandwidth to an end user than a typical Starlink antenna, and do it for a fraction of the cost,” Krishnaswamy added.
Alphabet also envisions Taara playing a role in enabling autonomous vehicles to communicate faster. “The possibilities are as boundless as light itself,” Krishnaswamy concluded.
Expected to be available in 2026
According to reports, the new Taara chip is expected to be available from 2026. However, widespread adoption may take time, especially among average consumers.
Regardless, this breakthrough technology could help connect even the most remote parts of the world to the internet, where traditional connections are impractical.
