Lasers and the Quest to Fix Broadband's Final Hurdle

The biggest challenge in the internet industry today is often called the "last-mile" problem. Many people and businesses can't get high-speed broadband because there's no final connection between the main internet infrastructure and their location. Fiber optics can provide fast, reliable internet, but they're hard and expensive to install in remote or rural areas. A company named Attochron thinks lasers might be the solution. They're creating a system called ALTIS-7, which uses lasers to transmit data through the air. Unlike fibers that need digging, lasers can avoid physical limitations. Attochron's equipment looks simple, like security cameras, and is way cheaper compared to fiber cables. For example, a 10-gigabit link might cost around $30,000.

Attochron has tested its technology with a telecom company and a big retailer over three months. They got speeds up to 1.25 gigabits per second over 1.5 miles. In ideal conditions, it can reach 10 gigabits per second, similar to top-tier fiber connections. However, weather can still cause problems, like fog, rain, and wind. One advantage of using lasers is that they don't need special permits. Unlike radio signals like 5G that are heavily regulated, these light frequencies are not. This makes it easier and faster to set them up. Even though lasers show promise, they face challenges too. Other companies have tried this before and faced issues. But Attochron believes its unique approach and 20 years of development can make a difference. Attochron wants to help in areas where fiber cables are too hard or expensive to install. It could be handy not just for rural broadband but also for places like the military that need secure communication.

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