(Credit: Taara)A startup from Google parent company Alphabet is looking to do battle with Starlink with the help of federal funds. On social media, Tarra is positioning itself as "BEAD-ready," a reference to government's $42.5 billion Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program.
The post comes after the US Commerce Department sparked controversy by revising the BEAD program to de-prioritize gigabit fiber installations. Instead, the new rules favor "technology neutrality,” opening the door for more of the subsidies to go toward satellite internet systems such as Starlink and ground-based wireless services like T-Mobile’s 5G Home Internet.
The changes are forcing all US states to revise their BEAD funding plans, and resubmit them to the Commerce Department. ISPs must then bid for BEAD funding in each state.
In the meantime, Taara is pointing out how its own technology, which can beam fiber-like speeds over the air, could be used as a solution under the BEAD program.
Instead of laying fiber cables, Taara’s technology installs a "Lightbridge" device on a tower, which can beam internet access across a distance of up to 20 kilometers. As a result, Taara is marketing its Lightbridge as a new way to bring high-speed broadband to rural and remote areas, much like SpaceX’s Starlink is already doing through orbiting satellites.
In terms of BEAD, Taara says its Lightbridge technology is best positioned for “middle mile infrastructure”—or the bridge between the core fiber network and the “last mile” equipment that delivers the high-speed broadband to a user’s home.
“In remote and geographically challenging regions, this middle mile is essential for connecting otherwise isolated communities. Without it, even the last-mile fiber connections or 5G cell towers remain stranded, unable to reach the broader internet,” Taara explained in a LinkedIn post. “This makes the middle mile a significant obstacle, under BEAD requirements, to deliver high-speed broadband quickly with minimal outlay.”
Taara didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. So it’s unclear if any US ISPs plan to deploy the company’s technology for BEAD-related installations. But in May, the startup announced a partnership with Digicomm International, a telecom equipment supplier.
“Through this strategic alliance, Digicomm will deliver Taara Lightbridge, a groundbreaking solution to broadband providers, enterprises, and municipalities seeking reliable high-speed, high-capacity wireless connectivity,” the companies said at the time.
In a statement, Digicomm told PCMag: "We are excited to see how our partners and customers use Taara for BEAD deployments —as Taara could be used for backhaul and middle mile builds at a lower cost than trenching fiber in many cases— furthering the goal of connecting every home."
Alphabet’s GFiber also recently tested Taara’s technology in San Francisco. “The results? Taara delivered a rock-solid 20 Gbps connection on clear days with ultra-low latency and zero packet loss—on par with the best wired networks. It also outperformed traditional millimeter and microwave radios in throughput,” GFiber said in a blog post.
However, GFiber didn’t say how the system performed in San Francisco’s often cloudy and foggy weather conditions. Meanwhile, T-Mobile has also used the Lightbridge as backhaul during outdoor events.