Taara, StarTouch partner to deliver optical wireless connectivity

Taara and StarTouch have announced a partnership to deliver carrier-grade enterprise connectivity across the United States using wireless optical communications technology.

The agreement brings together Taara, a graduate of X, Google's Moonshot Factory, and StarTouch, a provider of connectivity solutions for enterprise, public sector, and carrier customers, to offer high-capacity wireless links using beams of light. This technology, known as Taara Lightbridge, is currently used to provide high-speed connections in areas where traditional fibre deployments are not viable because of time or financial constraints.

The core innovation of Taara Lightbridge is its ability to transmit data through the air in the form of light beams between two points. This approach creates a wireless connection that delivers speeds similar to fibre connections, eliminating the need for physical cables. Operators have already deployed the technology to traverse physical barriers such as rivers and railways, extend connectivity across challenging terrain, augment 5G backhaul at busy cellular sites, and restore communications following infrastructure damage.

With this new partnership, Taara is expanding the application of its Lightbridge technology into enterprise use cases. Industries including manufacturing, automotive, retail, education, and others can now access rapid deployment and improved network resilience. The solution can allow StarTouch to enhance its hybrid network, which combines licensed microwave and fibre, with next-generation free space optical communications and expand its reach to new markets and customer segments.

Mahesh Krishnaswamy, Chief Executive Officer of Taara, said:

"We've used Taara Lightbridge to connect some of the most hard-to-reach places in the world using beams of light. Now we're enabling StarTouch to offer that same speed, capacity, and resilience, unlocking new opportunities to deliver on customer applications. Together, we can change how entire industries think about deploying connectivity, from something that takes months of planning and construction to something that can be up and running within a matter of hours."

Taara Lightbridge can achieve 20 Gbps bidirectional throughput with ultra-low latency across distances of up to 20 kilometres. The units weigh just 13 kilograms, considerably lighter than standard microwave dishes, and are designed for single-technician installation or redeployment within a few hours. The technology operates in unlicensed spectrum, which removes the need to obtain spectrum licences and avoids ongoing spectrum fees. The compact form factor also contributes to lower tower rental costs and reduced energy consumption.

StarTouch, a subsidiary of Declaration Networks Group (DNG), has an established presence with carriers and large enterprises along the West Coast and Mid-Atlantic regions and is planning to expand nationally. The company's approach combines fibre, licensed microwave, and now, free space optics, to deliver managed connectivity services for a range of clients.

Bob Nichols, Chief Executive Officer of Declaration Networks Group, commented:

"A key part of our innovation strategy is leveraging Taara's next-generation free space optics technology, which enables fiber-like speeds without the cost and delays of physical fiber installation. For our enterprise customers, this means rapid deployment, reduced construction costs, and the ability to connect hard-to-reach or disruption-prone locations in a fraction of the time.

StarTouch (DNG) already serves a large number of carrier and enterprise customers along the West Coast and Mid-Atlantic regions and as we look towards scaling our operations nationwide, Taara allows us to bring connectivity to not only the nation's largest cellular carriers and enterprises but also to underserved communities faster, enabling access to education, healthcare, remote work, and other meaningful applications."

With the integration of Taara's Lightbridge units, StarTouch can extend its services to new sites, enter fresh markets, and address additional industry verticals. The solution is positioned as a way to deliver route diversity and resilience more efficiently, with the added benefits of rapid installation and operational flexibility.

The partnership is focused on reducing deployment times and construction costs while providing fibre-like performance for locations affected by disruptions or challenging geography. By using wireless optical communications, both companies aim to address the requirements for resilience and speed in sectors where traditional infrastructure can present limitations or delays.