Rather than relying on broadband fiber transmissions, Transcelestial beams its signal through its wireless devices. Based in Singapore, Transcelestial is working to find better ways to deliver connectivity in situations where a buried cable is not practical. Its name-branded Centauri units are mounted high up on various buildings within sight lines of one another. The lasers can then send signals between the units to provide connectivity. As Reuters reports, Transcelestial has announced that it has just raised $10 million in funding, an effort led by Airbus Ventures.
The Centauri units can relay a signal ranging from 2 km to 3 km (1.24 – 1.86 miles). “The thesis back in the sixties and seventies was, eventually the size and the efficiency of the power of the lasers would reach a point where you could use lasers directly, wirelessly, to transmit data,” stated CEO and co-founder of Transcelestial, Rohit Jha. “And you don’t need these fiber cables anymore. In the last five to six years, we have reached capabilities that allows us to do that commercially.”
Transcelestial has deployed the “shoebox sized” Centauri units in southeastern Asian markets and hopes to expand into other regions. The company touts its delivery system as a cost-efficient way to deliver a digital signal in locations where elevated placement is quicker and more practical than digging.
The latest round in funding will help with both the installation of the units, and the production of additional equipment. Celestial’s Terabit Factory production facility allows the company to control its manufacturing processes without being hindered by supply chain issues.
“Transcelestial’s laser communications platform Centauri is a best in class solution for low cost, high bandwidth terrestrial communications,” said Clayton Williams, Managing Director for investor In-Q-Tel. “We are excited to help expand this capability to enable a space-based data backhaul for secure point-to-point communications from the U.S. and anywhere on earth.”
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