Taara One Step Closer to Optics Without Fiber, Says Google

To date, telecommunications networks using light to transmit data relied on fiber to carry and direct that light. X—a division of Google, not the social media platform—says that the next iteration of its Taara chip harnesses the light without the need for fiber. The post says that Taara transmits at speeds of 20 Gbps up to a distance of 20 kilometers. The connection is made when beams of light from two units create a link. To date, the system—and the current chip, called Lightbridge—relies upon a system of mirrors, sensors, precision optics, and smart software to create the links. X has been working on the concept for seven years. The next step is getting rid of the physical elements. This could enable Google to deploy Taara faster and less expensively.