$10 Million Funding Round Led by Airbus Ventures
Singapore-based startup Transcelestial has announced that it has secured $10 million in funding as part of its Series A2 round. The investment was led by aerospace venture firm Airbus Ventures, with participation from other notable investors including Kickstart Ventures, Genesis Alternative Ventures, Wavemaker, Cap Vista, and Seeds Capital. This brings the total amount raised by Transcelestial since its founding in 2016 to $24 million.
Mission to Improve Internet Connectivity
The company’s CEO, Rohit Jha, and co-founder Mohammad Danesh believe that connectivity is a fundamental human right. They argue that improving internet connections for at least a billion people drives all their commercial and technical decisions. According to them, current internet infrastructure is the primary reason why so many people lack reliable internet access.
Challenges with Current Internet Infrastructure
Undersea cables are expensive to build and only connect two points, while terrestrial long-haul networks provide good coverage in Tier 1 cities but leave smaller towns and cities behind. Middle-mile and last-mile distribution often involves costly infrastructure projects that encounter right-of-way issues.
Transcelestial’s Wireless Laser Communications Solution
Transcelestial’s laser communications systems eliminate the need for underground cables, which are expensive to install and maintain, as well as radio-frequency-based devices with their complicated licensing regulations. This allows Transcelestial to offer a significantly lower cost per bit option compared to traditional internet infrastructure solutions.
CENTAURI Devices: Shoebox-Sized Laser Communicators
Transcelestial’s shoebox-sized devices, called CENTAURI, have already been deployed in South Asian and Southeast Asian markets. These devices can deliver 5G connectivity and have the potential to transform the way people access the internet.
Next Steps: Expanding to Space
The company is now working on bringing its technology to a low-earth-orbit (LEO) constellation with the goal of deploying wireless fiber optics from orbit directly into cities and towns. This ambitious project aims to provide fast, reliable, and secure internet connectivity to underserved areas.
Entering the US Market
Transcelestial plans to enter the US market by exploring collaborations with government agencies, enterprises, and telecoms over the next 12 months. The company is already working under stealth with a few ISPs and a major enterprise cloud and data center company on the West Coast.
Preparing for Uncertainties in Supply Chain
Part of the funding will be used to prepare Terabit Factory, its production facility, against uncertainties in the supply chain. This facility has the capacity to manufacture up to 2,400 CENTAURI devices annually, making it the largest deployment volume of any laser comms producer globally.
Investor Perspective on Transcelestial’s Potential
In-Q-Tel managing director Clayton Williams said in a statement about the funding: "Transcelestial’s laser communications platform CENTAURI is a best-in-class solution for low-cost, high-bandwidth terrestrial communications. We are excited to help expand this capability to enable space-based data backhaul for secure point-to-point communications from the U.S. and anywhere on earth."
Conclusion
Transcelestial’s innovative wireless laser communications technology has the potential to transform the way people access the internet. With its recent funding round, the company is well-positioned to tackle the challenges of improving internet connectivity in underserved areas around the world.
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