• Optical device beams data at speeds up to 25 Gbps via light, up to 25 kilometer range with ultra-low latency - Taara Beam uses silicon photonics technology, device about as big as a shoebox It’s like fiber optics communication without the fiber. • Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. • You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Taara, a company specializing in free-space optical communication, just released the Beam - a shoebox-sized device that uses its proprietary Photonics Platform to deliver up to 25 Gbps of bidirectional throughput. • More than that, the company says that it has a range of 10 kilometers and claims that it has ultra-low latency, making it ideal for AI applications. • This isn’t the first optical transceiver developed by the company, as it has been working on the technology since 2017 at Google’s X development lab. • In fact, Taara says that its Lightbridge device has already been deployed in over 20 countries alongside carriers including T-Mobile, Vodafone, Airtel, and Digicel.

Article Summaries:

  • Taara has unveiled the Beam, a shoebox‑sized free‑space optical transceiver that delivers up to 25 Gbps bidirectional throughput over a 10‑km line‑of‑sight range with ultra‑low latency. Built on silicon photonics, the device uses an optical phased array of over a thousand emitters to steer beams without moving parts, enabling rapid deployment on existing towers or rooftops. The Beam is positioned as an alternative to fiber and RF links, promising faster installation and lower power use. Taara also offers its earlier Lightbridge system (20 Gbps, 20 km) and Lightbridge Pro, which adds RF or fiber backup for weather‑related outages.
  • Taara has unveiled the Beam, a shoebox‑sized free‑space optical transceiver that delivers up to 25 Gbps bidirectional throughput over a 10‑km line‑of‑sight range with ultra‑low latency. Built on silicon photonics, the device uses an optical phased array of over a thousand miniature emitters to steer beams without moving parts, enabling rapid deployment on existing towers or rooftops in hours rather than months. The Beam is positioned as an alternative to fiber and RF links, though it is vulnerable to weather conditions such as fog or heavy rain. Taara also offers a Lightbridge Pro model that adds RF or fiber backup for seamless switching when atmospheric conditions degrade the optical link.

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