The End of Digging Up Streets
A Google spinoff called Taara is deploying a technology that could fundamentally change how cities get connected to the internet. Instead of tearing up roads to bury fiber optic cables, Taara's Beam devices transmit data using invisible light between small units mounted on rooftops and poles, achieving speeds of up to 25 gigabits per second with ultra-low latency.
The concept sounds almost too simple: point two devices at each other and let light carry the data. But the engineering behind it is anything but simple. Each Beam device contains an optical phased array mounted on a silicon board with more than a thousand miniature light emitters. This array shapes and steers light beams with enough precision to maintain a stable connection over distances of up to 6.2 miles (10 kilometers), even as buildings sway, temperatures change, and atmospheric conditions fluctuate.
Speed and Specifications
At 25 Gbps bidirectional, Taara's Beam system rivals the fastest fiber optic connections available to commercial and residential customers. For context, the average U.S. broadband speed in 2026 is roughly 200 Mbps — Taara's system is 125 times faster. Even gigabit fiber, the gold standard of home internet, is just four percent of what Beam can deliver.
The physical hardware is remarkably compact. Each unit is roughly the size of a shoebox, weighs 17.6 pounds (8 kilograms), and can go from unpacked to operational in a matter of hours. Compare this to fiber optic deployment, which requires permits to dig up streets, months of construction, and significant capital expenditure. In dense urban environments where underground infrastructure is already crowded with water, gas, and electrical conduits, avoiding excavation altogether is a transformative advantage.
