Integrated network provider PLDT Inc. will switch on the country’s first three Google Taara laser communication sites, a technology that delivers high-speed internet without the need for undersea or underground cables.
Taara, developed by Google’s X Moonshot Factory, uses beams of light to transmit data across long distances, similar to fiber optics but without physical cables. Each site can provide up to 20 Gbps of capacity, enough to serve thousands of users.
The first sites are located in Talim Island in Rizal, Dipaluda in Isabela, and Bagong Pag-asa in Quezon City. On Talim Island, the technology spans an 11.8-kilometer stretch across Laguna de Bay to link the island with the mainland. In Dipaluda, it covers 13 kilometers of mountainous terrain where building fiber is costly and difficult. In Quezon City, it will be used to provide an alternative route and address single point of failure issues.
“This is a game-changer for us in connecting remote areas,” said Butch Jimenez, COO and head of network at PLDT. “It makes it easier to provide fiber-like internet to new areas. And we’re excited for the people of Talim Island and Dipaluda to enjoy the benefits of FTTH connectivity.”
PLDT said that it evaluated the technology for over a year.
Aside from faster speeds, Taara can reduce costs compared with traditional infrastructure. For Talim Island, it avoids the expense of laying fiber optic cables underwater, while in Dipaluda it bypasses challenges of installing fiber across rivers and mountains.
PLDT said the project is part of its strategic plan to use laser-based systems as a complement to its fiber network, especially in areas that are hard to reach such as islands, lakesides, and mountain communities.
Image from Google X Moonshot