Google-backed wireless optical communications company Taara has quietly established a foothold in Nigeria, deploying laser-powered internet links across Lagos in partnership with Liquid Intelligent Technologies to help businesses overcome persistent fibre bottlenecks and accelerate access to high-capacity connectivity.
The deployment marks one of the first large-scale commercial uses of free-space optical communications in Nigeria, offering enterprises an alternative to conventional fibre networks that are frequently disrupted by cable cuts, costly civil works and lengthy deployment timelines.
Read also: Nigeria nears 190m mobile lines as data demand surges
Over the past two years, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, a subsidiary of Cassava Technologies, has installed nearly a dozen Taara Lightbridge links across Lagos, connecting major enterprises from data centres to commercial districts while improving network resilience for internet service providers, financial institutions, hotels and a utility company.
The companies said the technology enables Liquid to distribute bandwidth rapidly from its points of presence at Africa Data Centres and other facilities to businesses that are difficult or expensive to reach through fibre infrastructure.
The development comes as Nigeria experiences surging demand for enterprise connectivity, cloud services and data centre capacity, driven by rapid digitalisation, fintech expansion and increasing adoption of artificial intelligence applications. However, the country’s dependence on terrestrial fibre networks has exposed businesses to frequent outages caused by accidental cable cuts, road construction and vandalism, with repairs sometimes taking several days.
Taara’s technology is designed to complement existing infrastructure by transmitting data through highly focused, invisible beams of light between two terminals. The system delivers speeds of up to 20 gigabits per second across distances of up to 20 kilometres without requiring underground trenching, spectrum licences or extensive construction work.
For enterprise customers, this means new high-speed connections can be activated within hours or days instead of the weeks or months often required for fibre deployment.
The technology could become increasingly valuable in Lagos, where rapid urban development, congested rights-of-way and soaring demand for digital services have made network expansion both expensive and operationally challenging.
The partnership also signals a broader shift in how telecom operators are approaching network resilience. Instead of relying solely on fibre, operators are increasingly building hybrid networks that combine fibre, wireless and optical technologies to minimise downtime and improve redundancy.
“For Liquid, deployment speed has been one of the most significant advantages. Traditional fibre deployments aren’t always a possibility, especially across difficult terrains. Taara links can often be installed and activated within hours, allowing Liquid to remain true to its mission of creating a digitally connected future that leaves no African behind,” said Eugene Uka, acting chief executive officer of Liquid Intelligent Technologies Nigeria.
Bhavesh Mistry, regional lead for Taara in Africa, said growing demand for connectivity requires operators to become more flexible in expanding network infrastructure.
“Fibre remains an essential part of modern communications infrastructure, and will for some time, but there are many situations where deploying fibre quickly or cost-effectively can be difficult. Wireless optical communication gives operators another tool to extend capacity, reach customers faster and build more resilient networks without compromising performance,” Mistry said.
The success of the Lagos deployment has encouraged Liquid to explore expansion into other major Nigerian cities, including Abuja, Ibadan and Kano, potentially extending the technology beyond the country’s commercial capital.
The move also reflects Nigeria’s growing importance in Africa’s digital infrastructure landscape. As investments in hyperscale data centres, cloud computing and enterprise digital services accelerate, demand for reliable, low-latency connectivity continues to outpace traditional network expansion.
For Google, whose Moonshot Factory spun out Taara as an independent business, Nigeria represents one of Africa’s largest opportunities for next-generation connectivity solutions capable of overcoming geographical and infrastructure constraints.
Currently deployed in more than 20 countries, Taara’s Lightbridge platform is already used by global operators including T-Mobile, Airtel, Digicel, SoftBank and Liquid to extend high-capacity connectivity across urban, rural and hard-to-reach locations.
Read also: How Nigeria built 101,000km of fibre that bypasses 130m Nigerians
Technology experts believe the arrival of laser-based communications could become an important addition to Nigeria’s broadband strategy, particularly as the country pursues ambitious digital economy targets while grappling with persistent fibre infrastructure challenges.
If expanded nationally, wireless optical communication could help bridge connectivity gaps for enterprises and public institutions while reducing dependence on lengthy fibre rollouts, creating a more resilient and diversified broadband ecosystem.
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