Google–PLDT deploy ‘air laser’ internet to island barangay, bypassing cables entirely

PLDT and Google’s Taara project have brought fiber-like internet to Barangay Subay in Talim Island, Rizal without laying a single underwater cable.

Instead of traditional fiber deployment, the system uses “air laser” technology that beams data through focused light across an 11.8-kilometer link over Laguna de Bay. The result: high-speed connectivity comparable to fiber, delivered to a geographically isolated community surrounded by water.

The Taara system uses free-space optical communication to transmit data via light beams, offering a lower-cost and faster-to-deploy alternative to submarine cables in hard-to-reach areas. It can also serve as a resilient backup link for existing networks.

For residents, the impact is immediate. Teachers can now stream educational content and access online learning tools in real time. Barangay officials are processing documents and submitting reports digitally, cutting turnaround times from weeks to minutes.

Reliable connectivity has also improved remote meetings and administrative work, even during commutes across the lake, highlighting the stability of the new link.

The Talim Island deployment marks the Philippines’ first use of Google Taara’s air laser system and signals a potential shift in how connectivity can be expanded across archipelagic and geographically isolated areas.

If scalable, this light-based backhaul approach could become a practical solution for delivering high-speed internet to communities where laying fiber simply isn’t feasible.