Google’s project Taara has introduced the Lightbridge Pro, a wireless optical networking product designed to deliver up to 20 Gbps speeds and support 99.999% uptime. The solution is positioned as an alternative to traditional fibre infrastructure deployment in certain use cases.
Lightbridge Pro is built on Taara’s existing Lightbridge technology and is intended to provide carrier-grade backhaul capabilities that can operate in varying weather conditions while aiming to reduce infrastructure costs. The technology combines optical communication with carrier-level availability.
The product includes a full-duplex connection and automated switching to fibre or radio frequency (RF) when atmospheric conditions affect performance. This mechanism is designed to enable transitions with minimal service disruption.
According to Taara’s CEO Mahesh Krishnaswamy, deploying fibre-capacity levels wirelessly can accelerate infrastructure upgrades without extended deployment timelines and can enhance operator networks within shorter timeframes.
Lightbridge technology is operational in more than 20 countries across urban areas as well as remote and disaster-affected regions. It has been deployed by operators including T-Mobile and SoftBank, supporting network expansion without full fibre builds.
Lightbridge Pro is designed for carrier network applications such as mobile backhaul and urban densification. It incorporates a Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance, and Security (FCAPS) management framework and is intended to integrate with existing network architectures, including Operations Support Systems (OSS) and Business Support Systems (BSS).
Taara has indicated that it plans to announce additional photonics-based wireless systems at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in 2026. These developments are expected to expand flexibility and scalability and support broader urban deployment models beyond point-to-point applications.
