The demand for high-speed internet has been growing in recent years. The global internet traffic is also growing by 25% annually but millions of people in remote and rural areas still struggle with poor or no internet connection due to the limitations of traditional broadband infrastructure. It’s not logically or financially possible to lay down fiber-optic cables in mountains, forests, or isolated islands. This is where laser communication comes in to offer high-speed internet through free-space optical communication without the need for any huge ground infrastructure.
Laser-based internet technology uses laser beams to transfer data between two points but without the use of wires. Many companies are starting to implement them in rural areas; tech giants Google and Airtel have already started working on adding laser connectivity solutions in rural India.
The success of laser communication technology depends on cybersecurity, environmental factors, and integration with existing infrastructure. In this blog, we are going to look at the new laser communication technology and how it provides connectivity to rural areas and more.
Every internet-based communication needs to prioritize security and this is true with laser networks as well.
Since they do not use physical wiring and transmit data directly through open space, they are more exposed to interception and environmental disruptions. One way to avoid this is by using proxy servers, specifically a US-based proxy, to optimize security and traffic management. Why? A US proxy is particularly helpful due to the high-speed infrastructure within the country, compliance with international regulations, and the presence of geo-located network traffic for smooth cross-border communications.
US proxies can also help with protecting any sensitive information that is transmitted through laser communications. It can also reduce any latency and optimize bandwidth usage to maintain high-speed connections in these systems. Since laser networks such as Amazon’s Kuiper can reach speeds up to 100 Gbps in recent tests, it’s important to use proxies to enhance network efficiency and protect communications from cyber attacks.
Startups in Singapore such as Transcelestial are already making innovations to bring ultra-fast internet to underdeveloped regions. Currently, the company is testing its Centauri laser communication technology to provide high-speed and wireless internet to remote areas in Northern Australia. This laser communication system can deliver speeds up to 25 Gbps which makes it a good alternative to fiber-optics.
Also, the company is planning to place the laser communication devices on rooftops, telecommunication towers, or high-altitude platforms to create a good network that can protect it from environmental damage as well. Since over 2.8 million Australians still don’t have access to high-speed internet, the government is making the project a priority.
Even with the numerous advantages of connecting people globally and more, it also has its fair share of challenges that must be solved, such as:
- Laser beams are affected by weather conditions that can reduce the signal.
- Laser communication requires a clear line of sight that limits its range and flexibility of deployment
- It is also vulnerable to interception and jamming due to its open-space communication method.
But even with these challenges, there are several solutions companies can go for to optimize laser communication. To protect against changing weather conditions, they can use adaptive optics systems or multiple laser beams to ensure continuous communication. Relay systems on high-altitude platforms such as drones or balloons can provide a clear line of sight even in challenging terrains. They can use narrow beam divergence to make it challenging for attackers to intercept the path or use DIRCM systems to detect and block any attack before they enter the network.
The long-term goal of laser communication technology is to create a global, high-speed internet network that is cheap and scalable.
Since companies such as Google, Airtel, and Transcelestial are leading the charge, there will be more innovations in the form of satellite-laser integration, AI network optimization to predict weather disruptions and adjust transmission paths, and further expansion into commercial sectors to develop industries such as finance, healthcare, and defense. Google has already rolled out the laser beam technology with Project Taara to provide connectivity between Brazzaville and Kinshasa.
To sum up, laser communication is going to be a promising tech and topic in the coming years to connect people around the globe. It’s just a matter of time before we can see more people updating themselves and getting access to the internet no matter where they are.
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