Alphabet’s laser-Internet sent 700TB of data with 99.9% availability

This is equivalent to watching a FIFA World Cup match in HD 270,000 times, in 20 days with 99.9% availability.

September 23, 2021 01:30 pm | Updated 01:33 pm IST

Alphabet's laser internet is providing light-speed connectivity from Brazzaville to Kinshasa across the Congo River

Alphabet's laser internet is providing light-speed connectivity from Brazzaville to Kinshasa across the Congo River

Alphabet's laser internet system is now providing light-speed connectivity from Brazzaville to Kinshasa across the Congo River.

(Subscribe to our Today's Cache newsletter for a quick snapshot of top 5 tech stories. Click here to subscribe for free.)

Project Taara, Alphabet's wireless optical communications system has sent 700TB of data with 99.9% availability or when the system is up and running.

This is equivalent to watching a FIFA World Cup match in HD 270,000 times, in 20 days with 99.9% availability.

Separated by the Congo River, the world’s deepest and second fastest river, Brazzaville and Kinshasa are only 4.8 kilometers apart but connectivity is five times more expensive in Kinshasa because the fibre connection has to travel more than 400 kms to route around the river.

Alphabet reckons that Taara’s laser-based internet system will provide faster, more affordable connectivity to the 17 million people living in these cities.

Taara’s laser internet system uses narrow, invisible beams of light to deliver fiber-like speeds, Baris explained.

Alphabet claims that Taara's internet system has better tracking capabilities, automated environmental responses and better planning tools than traditional fiber that is helping it deliver reliable high-speed bandwidth to places that fiber can't reach.

Also Read | Researchers make Skype calls using underwater Wi-Fi

Better tracking capabilities mean that when Taara’s beam has been affected by haze, light rain,birds or monkeys, there is no service interruptions.

Taara’s terminals could automatically adjust to changes in the environment to maintain the precise connection.

Also Read | Bringing the Internet to everyone

0 / 0
Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.