Google and PLDT Partner Up to Bring Internet to Islands Using ‘Air Laser’

A promotional graphic featuring the logos of PLDT and Google overlaid on a map of the Philippines. On the left is the Taara "air laser" terminal. A yellow text box at the bottom reads: "Google and PLDT Partners Up to Bring Internet to Islands Using 'Air Laser'."

Just last week, we rolled out a story about Globe Telecom partnering up with SpaceX's Starlink to bring Direct to Cell tech to the Philippines.

By: Justine Abalos
February 17, 2026

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Just last week, we rolled out a story about Globe Telecom partnering up with SpaceX’s Starlink to bring Direct to Cell tech to the Philippines. The goal is to eliminate dead zones or areas that have no cellular signal which are prevalent in rural areas.

Now, DTC is still in its testing phase so public adoption could still take a few months or years, depending on how the rollout will go. Luckily, there’s another technology that is already being adopted in Talim Island in Rizal.

The project is the result of the collaboration between PLDT and Google which utilizes “air laser” technology called Project Taara. Instead of laying down optic fiber cables which can be expensive, the project uses beams of light to transmit data through the air.

A close-up, side-profile shot of a sleek, white Project Taara terminal mounted on a metal pole against a sunset sky. The device features a prominent circular green glass lens on its side, used for transmitting long-range light beams.
via, Google’s X

What is ‘Air Laser’ Technology?

Before we get into the project, it is important to discuss just how ‘air laser’ technology works. I mean it can seem like downright sorcery but it is actually backed by actual science.

I can see why Google and PLDT decided to just call it ‘Air Laser’, its technical term “Free Space Optical Communication (FSOC)” can be a bit daunting for many.

But the gist is this, Taara’s terminals are placed on one end to the other. These terminals transmit an invisible beam of light that carries data. The one PLDT installed in Talim Island spans 11.8 kilometers but can still deliver up to 20 Gbps.

A technical line-art illustration showing two Taara terminals communicating. A colorful gradient beam of light (transitioning from purple to yellow) is shown emitting from the circular lens of one terminal and traveling directly into the lens of the second terminal, demonstrating point-to-point optical communication.
via, Google’s X

I mean it is not blazing fast but for social media scrolling or Zoom meetings, it is more than enough considering that it does not entail the massive financial and environmental cost of laying cables under the sea.

Looking to the Future

Just like what we said in our DTC article, waiting for a cell site or fiber optic connections can be costly and frustrating because it has to go through a lot of hoops. These technologies help fast track the government’s goal of connecting every place, every island in the Philippines.

And it does not stop there. PLDT has activated sites in Dipaluda, Isabela where the system bypasses 13 km of mountainous terrain, and in Quezon City to serve as a backup for service failures.

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