The test highlights how laser-based wireless technology can sidestep right-of-way issues, avoid the heavy costs of laying fiber or acquiring spectrum licenses, and quickly bring high-speed internet to hard-to-reach areas.
This approach could help telecoms expand coverage faster in remote regions where rugged terrain and infrastructure challenges have long slowed network rollouts.
Management’s view
“This milestone represents a significant leap forward in our quest to deliver future-ready and cost-effective transport solutions that are rapidly deployable,” said Gerhard Tan, Senior Director and Head of Technology Strategy and Innovations at Globe.
“This pilot opens doors to a reliable and scalable wireless backhaul solution that can be rapidly deployed and help close connectivity gaps, especially in island and remote areas,” he added.
Key details
• Globe worked with Fiber Infrastructure and Network Services Inc. (FINSI) and Google X’s Taara project for the trial, with 80 percent of the link spanning open water.
• The system achieved 10Gbps wireless connectivity over an 11-kilometer aerial link across Laguna Lake.
• It passed rigorous tests, including the Enhanced Request for Comments (RFC) 2544 suite and a 24-hour Bit Error Rate Test (BERT), meeting Globe’s standards.
• Taara’s laser-based system provides multi-gigabit speeds, offering a practical solution for remote and hard-to-wire areas.
—Edited by Miguel R. Camus
