Internet over laser or laser based internet refers to the phenomena of using laser beams  to transmit high-speed internet services between locations through the air without relying on the traditional Optical Fiber infrastructure. Since it uses light to transmit internet over spaces, it can be very fast with minimal noise and high bandwidth. It employs the visible light spectrum falling in the range of 380 nm and 780 nm of the spectrum.

How is it different from the traditional WiFi Infra?

Internet Over Laser differs from the Wifi Infra in the following major aspects: 

1. Free Space Optics (FSO): Former employs light waves to transfer data through the air whereas latter uses radio waves to transfer data through a cable. This allows the former to transfer data over long distances without the hassles of pre-installed wire infrastructure, even to locations like space, practically not feasible for Optical Fibers.  
2. Higher Frequency: Former employs light waves with frequency ranging between 200 THz-400THz while latter employs radio waves of 2.4GHz-6GHz. This allows the former to exhibit higher bandwidth than the traditional WiFi infra allowing it to transfer high volumes of data in relatively shorter span of time.
3. Enhanced Privacy & Security: Since the former is highly directional and employs line-of-sight technology, even analyzers and RF meters cannot detect it.  Even if someone interrupts the beam, the link is broken. While the latter also ensures high security, it is theoretically possible to breach the same.
4. Non-Congestible: The bandwidth of Laser-based internet infra is 1000 times higher than that of radio waves, hence accommodating more traffic without the hassles of congestion and individual network degradation. 

Keeping these in mind let's understand the need of the Internet Over Laser infra in special reference to India.

Why is it Important for India?

A report by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) boasts of 936.16 million users of Internet by India at the end of december 2023 of which a large chunk consist of wireless users going up to 897.59 million. A few metrics worth attention are:

1. Dissatisfaction: While internet users metrics throws up a huge number, approximately 70% of the Fiber/Broadband/Fixed Line/DSL users remain unsatisfied with their internet service provider and wish to shift to another network.     
2. Last Mile Access: While a prestigious scheme like Bharatnet is already there to ensure last mile connectivity for the villages through broadband, an outstanding number of 6,40,000 villages are still pending to be covered under the same.     
3. Internet Penetration: While India has a huge number of active internet users, the internet penetration rate still lags way behind the international average of 66%. Internet penetration in India stands today at 52.4% of the entire population.
4. Urban-Rural Divide: As per 2010 statistics, 75% of the Broadband connections of the country fall in the top 30 cities indicating a bigger problem of divide arising out of non-proportionate opportunities. 

Airtel-Taara Voyage

Sunil Mittal-led Bharti Airtel had entered into a strategic agreement with Google’s Parent Company Alphabet’s Taara, a laser internet technology company led by Mahesh Krishnaswamy. Their pilots began 4 years back with an agreement aimed at Airtel utilizing Taara’s tech to equip its 4G and 5G operations in India which can ensure a speed of up to 20 GBPS, as the company’s site confirms.

The agreement aimed at deploying Taara’s optical communication links across the urban and rural areas of the country while Airtel will ensure the communications infrastructure in these places.

Some More Impediments   

While experts believe it to be a promising innovation, it still has some issues in its practical aspect. The ongoing field trials by Airtel-Taara have found the laser based technology to be not equipped in handling extreme weather conditions efficiently. Apart from this, it may  also not work efficiently in hard-to-reach places. This may further get exacerbated if the telcos won’t have backup fibers or networks in place to address the interferences.

Key Takeaways

As India gears up for its journey on the course of laser-based-internet, the key takeaways at the moment can be:

1. Cheaper Alternative: While WiFi and broadband involve deployment of Optic Fibers at large scale involving hefty costs, the other needs only a transmitter and corresponding receiver to activate a connection offering stupendous speed.
2. Non-Congestible Alternative: Since the other employs light rays, it can offer high bandwidth, potential solution for the problem of network congestion  and low speed. Hence, offering people a better and desirable alternative.  
3. No Last-mile Issue: With Taara’s technology promising bandwidths of more than 20GBps over a span of 20 km with a single link without any fiber deployment, it promises the best solution till date to the indispensable problem of last-mile connectivity.   
4. Disruptive Tech: The Tech offered by Taara is disruptive in its approach as it can be even arranged and installed temporarily at any place to facilitate an active and high bandwidth internet connection.

Conclusion

While Airtel-Taara is faced with challenges in ensuring effective employment for the time being, the technology promises some significant strides in the internet revolution that India must not shy away from adopting. As the telecom sector reaches heights in internet usage, it is necessary to ensure that the users are provided with the best-in-class services and latest technology to bridge the gaps of divide, literacy and hence opportunities.

To explore the future of the BFSI sector, join us at the 32nd Convergence India & 10th Smart Cities India exhibition and conferences, taking place from 19-21 March 2025 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.