Google, PLDT deploy ‘air laser’ link to connect island barangay in Rizal

PLDT and Google, through Google’s Taara technology, have deployed what they describe as the country’s first “air laser” sites on the island, using light to transmit data across an 11.8-kilometer link over Laguna de Bay.

The system, developed by Taara, sends high-speed data through narrow, invisible light beams, delivering fiber-like internet speeds without the need to lay submarine cables. For communities such as Barangay Subay in Cardona, Rizal—located on an island in the middle of a lake where underwater cable deployment is difficult—the technology offers an alternative path to reliable connectivity.

PLDT and Smart Head of Network Strategy and Architecture Eric Santiago said the deployment demonstrates how new technologies can address connectivity gaps in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.

“Our deployment of Google Taara air laser technology here in Talim Island demonstrates how innovation can break through the physical barriers that have long limited connectivity in an archipelago of over 7,000 islands, particularly for remote and Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs),” Santiago said.

He added that the solution allows faster rollout at lower cost while providing high-capacity links that can also serve as a resilient backup to existing networks. “More importantly, it enables PLDT fiber to reach communities that are traditionally difficult to serve, bringing reliable digital access to the most remote and disadvantaged areas and advancing our mission to connect every Filipino to opportunity, essential services, and the digital economy,” he said.

Classrooms go online

At Subay Elementary School, longtime teacher Renelyn Antonil said the difference is felt inside the classroom.

“We couldn’t search online about our lessons, and we couldn’t communicate that well, too,” she recalled of the time before reliable connectivity.

With the new link in place, she said teachers can now access online materials and video platforms to enrich lessons. “For example, we can now go on YouTube to get additional information and material for our students. That way, our lessons are more exciting. I have noticed that the students are more attentive now, compared to when we were just using manila paper.”

School principal Johnie Olorvida, who commutes daily by motorcycle and boat from Angono to Talim Island, said connectivity has also improved administrative work and virtual coordination.

“Without reliable connectivity, you can’t download files immediately and you can’t edit them right away,” he said, noting that online meetings used to be disrupted, especially during bad weather.

He said he has experienced staying connected during an online meeting even while walking to the boat and crossing the lake, underscoring the expanded network reach. Non-teaching personnel, including school clerks, are now able to prepare and submit reports more quickly.

From manual to digital barangay services

Barangay Secretary Luisito Ditablan said the shift has also streamlined local government services.

“We used to do everything manually here—I remember when we still used typewriters,” he said. During the pandemic, the barangay had to conduct meetings online and transmit reports digitally, making stable connectivity essential.

Today, Ditablan said processes that once took weeks can now be completed in minutes. “Our processes used to be slow. Now, everything’s just a click away—barangay clearances, residency certificates—just a few clicks, and it’s done. What used to take weeks can now be finished faster—at times even in under three to five minutes.”

PLDT said its investments in emerging network technologies form part of broader efforts to expand digital access nationwide and support essential services such as education and local governance, particularly in hard-to-reach communities.