Next-generation wireless: Connecting the world with Taara Wireless Optical Communications (WOC)

Overview

Abstract

Broadband connectivity has been fueling a steady enrichment of our lives for the past few decades, in education, commerce, health, and work. Consumption of data has been on an exponential growth curve during this period, doubling approximately every 18 to 24 months. Fifth-generation (5G) wireless rollout is in progress in most of the world to keep up with our demand for data, and projections for sixth-generation (6G) wireless predict up to a thousand-fold increase in mobile traffic by 2030.

Yet our global connectivity infrastructure suffers from persistent disparities. According to the World Economic Forum’s 2020 report, less than 10% of households in low-income countries subscribe to fixed broadband, compared to 70% in middle-income and 90% in high-income countries, respectively. Overall, about half of the world’s population (approximately 4B people) do not have access to affordable and abundant broadband connectivity. Billions more remain under-connected today, as our internet infrastructure strains to keep up with increasing data demands.

In this talk, we will discuss Wireless Optical Communication (WOC) and its pioneering role in a future where ubiquitous broadband internet will be accessible and affordable to everyone on the planet. We will introduce WOC fundamentals, with a focus on the technology pillars of Taara’s WOC design that have allowed us to balance performance with cost-effective manufacturing. We will conclude with examples from our real-world deployments that demonstrate the impact of this innovative technology when applied to the global connectivity challenge.

Brief Biography

Devin Brinkley is the engineering lead for Project Taara, X's moonshot to expand global access to fast, affordable internet with beams of light.  Devin has been active in developing advanced optical communication technologies and products for nearly two decades.  He previously led multiple Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) programs, a high production Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement Systems (MILES) program and the Wireless Optical Communication hardware development on Project Loon.