Who Will Dominate Africa’s Internet Landscape: Google or Starlink?

(3 Minutes Read)

Taara Lightbridge, a Google-owned company, is competing with Elon Musk’s Starlink to enhance internet access in Africa, targeting around 860 million people without reliable connectivity. Taara offers affordable, high-speed internet that challenges satellite broadband options. As Starlink expands its presence across the continent, Taara aims to capture a growing consumer base.

Developed by Alphabet, Google’s parent company, Taara Lightbridge is designed to become an independent entity, aiming to connect underserved areas with high-speed internet. Utilizing Free Space Optical Communication (FSOC) technology, Taara transmits high-speed internet via light over long distances, contrasting with the satellite approach used by Starlink. CEO Mahesh Krishnaswamy mentioned the company’s ambition to reach approximately three billion people worldwide. While still in testing, Taara is operational in 12 countries, focusing on scaling in Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria.

The demand for affordable, high-speed internet has surged, particularly in Africa, where fiber-optic infrastructure remains underdeveloped. Taara addresses this challenge by offering a solution that functions like an invisible fiber-optic cable in the sky, transmitting narrow beams of light through the air at speeds up to 20 gigabits per second over distances of up to 20 kilometres.

However, the technology requires a clear line of sight, as obstacles like fog, rain, or buildings can interfere with the signal. To mitigate this issue, Taara has created advanced AI-driven mirror systems that maintain alignment between connected units for a stable connection.

Krishnaswamy explained that the team developed a compact, traffic light-sized box for the laser, which can be mounted on rooftops or cell towers. Early tests in India successfully linked buildings in urban areas, and in Africa, the technology connected Kinshasa and Brazzaville across the Congo River, where traditional fiber deployment was impractical.

Taara plans to collaborate with internet service providers and telecom companies like Liquid Telecoms to expand connectivity to rural and disaster-affected areas where conventional infrastructure is unfeasible. While fiber optic cables remain the backbone of internet networks, their deployment can be uneconomical in challenging terrains.

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Taara’s ground-based solution may offer a more cost-effective alternative to satellite networks, requiring less energy and avoiding the expenses tied to space-based systems. The team is also working on miniaturizing the Taara terminal, aiming to reduce deployment costs further.

These innovative solutions could effectively meet the demand for high-speed connectivity in Africa, presenting a competitive edge against Starlink, particularly in terms of pricing. In related news, Starlink is moving closer to launching operations in Tanzania, having applied for the necessary licenses with the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority, aligning with its goal to provide internet services in underserved regions.