Vodafone has announced an innovative use of drones to address issues of broken network infrastructure. This initiative involves utilizing Taara’s wireless optical networking technology to establish a connection between two drones over several kilometers. By doing so, the operator can effectively bypass damaged network sections, ensuring continued service.
The Taara Project, from X (formerly known as Google X), uses optical terminals equipped with mirrors and sensors. These components work together to point, acquire, and track beams of visual light, which transmit data directly from one point to another. This approach not only provides a practical solution for temporary network disruptions but could be invaluable in emergencies where traditional infrastructure is compromised.
In Seville, Spain, a successful trial saw one drone linked to a mobile mast and another to a data transport hub over 3 km away. While specifics on the connection quality during this pilot remain undisclosed, past tests in 2021 demonstrated Taara’s ability to deliver bidirectional throughput of up to 20Gbps across 20 kilometers.
The rapid deployment of this drone solution highlights its practical use in quickly addressing cable issues caused by events like construction or vandalism. Moreover, in instances of natural disasters, its emergency connectivity feature becomes especially relevant.
Further possibilities of Taara’s technology include bridging connections over rivers, seas, or any terrains where traditional infrastructure is challenging to deploy. In such cases, if a fixed infrastructure is possible, permanently installing Taara equipment might be more effective.
