From sea to space

• Heard of undersea cables? They’re what enables the internet. Now, can you imagine THAT in space? Rohit Jha and Mohammed Danesh can.
• The Co-founders discussed using lasers in deep space to communicate between planets and interstellar distances. But why? To solve the Internet Distribution Problem and provide affordable, high-speed internet to everyone.
• This is core to 500-backed spacetech startup Transcelestial’s belief that connectivity is a human right, and the team wants to improve that experience for at least a billion people.
• Currently, 99% of the world’s data goes through a network of fiber-optic cables under the oceans and across continents. Don’t fall for the misconception that only developing nations suffer from poor connectivity — some of the most developed nations in the world, like the U.S., the U.K., and Australia, struggle with the same connectivity hurdles!
• So, how is Transcelestial doing things differently? “We can take the laser from inside a fiber-optic cable and make it shoot wirelessly between buildings, cell towers, continents, satellites, and eventually, planets,” said Rohit, who is also the CEO.
• The team built a shoebox-sized device, dubbed the CENTAURI, that is much cheaper and easier to set up. What’s more, it is capable of delivering 10Gbps at 3-kilometer distances, and only consumes the energy equivalent to a light bulb.
• “With our tech, you can essentially connect a few buildings in less than a day. Not only are the laser links easy to set up, but they can also withstand tough weather conditions like humidity and rain,” he added.
• Read the full article here.

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