12.11.2020
13:08
The initiative seeks to bring wireless optical broadband to areas where it is difficult to lay fiber optic cables. Together with the Internet provider Econet, this technology will begin to be implemented first in Kenya and then in other countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
By Desirée JaimovichNovember 12, 2020djaimovich@infobae.com Share on FacebookShare Share on TwitterTweet Share on WhatsAppShare
Project Taara deployment to start in Kenya
The use of the Internet continues to grow in the world: according to the latest data from the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), some 4.1 billion people use the Internet, that is, 53.6% of the world’s population. However, there are still 3.6 billion people still not connected , and most of them live in developing countries.
How to solve this problem? There are several edges to consider, and one of them is the type of technology. In the case of Alphabet’s X Moonshot Factory subsidiary (whose main subsidiary is Google ), the answer would be to use beams of light that go from one antenna to another to transmit data and does not require the use of cables.
The company announced that, through Project Taara , its initiative to bring optical wireless broadband has teamed up with Internet provider Econet and its subsidiaries, Liquid Telecom and Econet Group , to begin implementing this technology in sub-Saharan Africa.
Within the framework of the Taara Project, formerly known as the FSOC Project, wireless optical communication technology is being developed that offers high- speed, high- capacity connectivity over long distances using light beams.
The Taara links will start to roll out through Liquid Telecom’s networks in Kenya first. There they will contribute to providing high-speed connectivity in places where it is difficult to lay fiber cables, or where fiber implementation can be too costly or dangerous , such as rivers, national parks, or post-conflict areas. This is the first launch of Taara’s technology in Africa, following a series of pilot tests that took place in Kenya last year.
How the Taara project works
Taara uses rays of light to offer high-speed connectivity over long distances
Just as traditional fiber uses light to transport data through cables on the ground, Taara also uses light to transmit information but in a more economical way since it does not require the installation of cables. “This beam is sent between two small Taara terminals to create a link. A single link from Taara can cover distances of up to 20 km and can transmit a bandwidth of up to 20 Gbps +, which is enough connectivity for thousands of people to be watching YouTube at the same time, ”the official statement released.
By creating a series of links from the provider’s fiber optic network overland to other offline areas, Taara’s links can transmit high-speed, quality internet to users without having to spend the time and money involved in digging ditches or run cables along poles.
“Taara links offer a cost-effective and rapidly deployable way to bring high-speed Internet access to remote areas and help close critical gaps at major access points, such as mobile phone towers and Wi-Fi access points,” it said. mentioned in the report.
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