Singapore’s Transcelestial diversifies in Indonesia with NTT

Transcelestial fibre-grade
Image of Transcelestial Centauri courtesy Transcelestial

Transcelestial, a wireless laser communications technology company based in Singapore, has partnered with NTT in Indonesia to offer connectivity solutions to companies beyond the telecommunications sector. The partnership will enable Transcelestial to extend its offerings to a wider range of businesses, including those in manufacturing.

With the partnership, NTT’s portfolio of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) services and presence in Indonesia will be utilized to make Transcelestial’s laser technology accessible to leading manufacturers and mobile network operators as well as internet service providers in the country.

Transcelestial’s wireless laser technology called CENTAURI delivers fibre-equivalent network speeds over distances comparable to those of radiofrequency or fibre-optic solutions, delivering 5G, GPON, FWA and 10Gbps leased lines between towers.

Meanwhile, NTT will help bring the technology to market by providing a permanent demonstration of the technology between its office in Indonesia and the Mall Ambassador building. This site will showcase how the technology works as a wireless solution compared to traditional fibre or radiofrequency networks.

“Indonesia’s communications industry has shown intense activity in recent months fuelled by a need for better connectivity across 4G, 5G and broadband,” said Rohit Jha, CEO and co-founder of Transcelestial. “Responding to this has its challenges – the country’s archipelago landscape, vast footprint, lack of urban and suburban fibre, makes internet delivery via just optical fibre cable very challenging. This transformation will come at significant cost, time delays and resources.”

The future of 5g: wireless laser communications technology

NTT’s recently released report on global 5G developments found that executives view integration with legacy systems and infrastructure as an obstacle to overcome for deploying private 5G networks. The same survey reported that over 80% of chief information officers and senior leaders plan to deploy private 5G networks within the next 24 months.

Physical fibre cables, for instance, are common in urban environments but are costly and slow to implement because network upgrades require unearthing and replacing old cables from the ground.

An alternate method is to transmit data via radio frequency (RF), but such a system can be unreliable due to cross-channel interference and may involve layers of red tape approvals.

On the other hand, Transcelestial’s technology beams lasers instead of fibre-optic cables, which enables fibre-grade Internet connections without the need for any poles, towers, or wires between buildings, and can be implemented in a fraction of the time and cost of physical fibre cables.

In the longer term, the company hopes to build a constellation of small satellites positioned in Low Earth Orbit. These satellites would allow Transcelestial’s laser network to beam power across continents as well as within cities.

Going beyond telecommunications

Aside from mobile network operators (MNOs) and internet service providers (ISPs) in the telecom industry that will enjoy a faster rollout to market and offer consumers faster data speeds, wireless laser communications technology can benefit the manufacturing industry. For manufacturers, this technology means they will have much less downtime, achieving the increased efficiency and productivity that advanced automation and the Internet can bring.

“Network-connected device types are multiplying, bringing important implications for the ecosystem of wired and wireless technologies, products, and services that will provide a foundation for tomorrow’s digital economy,” said Hendra Lesmana, CEO of Indonesia at NTT.

“This creates new demands for connectivity. Our new partnership with Transcelestial will combine the best of advanced technology and services and help our clients in Indonesia achieve secure and high-speed connectivity to fuel their innovations and gain competitive advantage.”

Rapid SEA expansion

Transcelestial has been extending its reach in the region. In 2021, it signed a partnership with specialist distributor Exclusive Networks to deploy its laser network devices in key markets, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Last January, Transcelestial announced a partnership with Malaysia’s Glocomp Systems to spearhead a wireless laser communications boost in the country. Through the partnership, the companies hope to solve problems faced by mobile operators and enterprises when looking for solutions to 5G’s last-mile connectivity hurdle.

In 2020, the company also raised $10 million in a Series A funding with the help of Wavemaker Partners and Cap Vista – the strategic investment arm of the Defence Science and Technology Agency of Singapore.

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