Google in talks with Jio, Airtel to pilot internet at high speeds using light beams

Tech giant Google is in talks with Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel to provide internet and telecom connectivity to remote areas and resolve hurdles such as laying optic fibre.

How does it work? The technology sends light beams – instead of radio waves – between transmitters and receivers attached to servers placed on buildings and structures. The speed could be as high as 20 gigabytes a second compared with less than one gigabyte a second that many consumers get now, the person said.

Google Station shutdown: Google was earlier providing free Wi-Fi to 415 railway stations in India as part of its global “Station” project. However, nearly five years later, it pulled out of the project in February this year. The company had attributed this to the increased 4G connectivity across the country and dirt-cheap data tariffs.

In July, Google had committed $10 billion to India under its digitisation fund, of which $4.5 billion was used to pick up a 7.7% stake in Jio Platforms, the parent of Reliance Jio and the digital services arm of Reliance Industries.