PLDT has activated the first Google Taara laser sites in the Philippines. The new system uses beams of light to provide fiber-like connectivity, giving fast internet speeds without using cables.
The three sites are in Talim Island (Rizal), Dipaluda (Isabela), and Bagong Pag-asa (Quezon City). These areas are hard to reach with regular fiber lines. Talim Island is across a lake, Dipaluda is in the mountains, and Bagong Pag-asa needs backup to avoid network failures.
Taara was built by Google’s X Moonshot Factory. It can deliver up to 20 Gbps, enough for thousands of users. PLDT tested the system for over a year before launching it.
“This is a game-changer for us in connecting remote areas,” said Butch Jimenez, PLDT Chief Operating Officer and Head of Network. “It makes it easier to provide fiber-like internet to new areas.”
PLDT says Taara saves money by avoiding the need for underwater or mountain cables. It also helps expand internet access to places that are usually left out.
The company plans to use more laser sites to support its national fiber network and reach more communities.
