Earlier this month, Google (NASDAQ: GOOGL) revealed that the laser communication project it's been working on for an undisclosed amount of time will be spinning off. The tech startup, Aalyria, said in a release that it is working to establish "hyper fast, ultra-secure, and highly complex communications networks that span land, sea, air, near space, and deep space."
According to Aalyria, its laser communication system is "on an exponentially greater scale and speed than anything that exists today." The system runs on the startup's "Tightbeam" laser technology, which it claims can keep data "intact through the atmosphere and weather and offers connectivity where no supporting infrastructure exists."
"Tightbeam radically improves satellite communications, Wi-Fi on planes and ships, and cellular connectivity everywhere," Aalyria said.
The laser technology can reportedly deliver internet speeds of up to 1.6 terabits per second, roughly 1,600 times faster than the fastest internet speeds seen in today's cities.
In keeping with Alphabet's recent drive to pick up more government contracts, Aalyria already has an $8.7 million commercial contract lined up with the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit "to help develop secure internet connectivity throughout the space domain for both private and public sector customer," according to the startup.
"Aalyria's vision and technical approach enables, for the first time, the complete communications and network solution for integrated deterrence," former deputy secretary of defense Bob Work said in a press release. "There is nothing else like it."
Aalyria will be headed up by national security expert Chris Taylor, and its advisory board will include several other members from within Google.
Google will keep an unspecified minority stake in the spin-off, and the tech giant also declined to specify how much outside funding Aalyria has been able to raise.
Along with Aalyria, Google's parent company Alphabet is stepping back from several experimental projects in anticipation of a dip in ad spending on its platform. While some projects like Waymo self-driving cars have begun seeking outside funding, others, like Loon's internet balloons, have been dropped.