Taara and Liquid expand wireless optical connectivity across Nigeria

Taara, a graduate of X, Google’s Moonshot Factory and a provider of high-speed, high-capacity wireless optical communication, is continuing its collaboration with Liquid Intelligent Technologies, part of Cassava Technologies, to strengthen enterprise connectivity in Nigeria

The partnership is helping Liquid extend high-capacity bandwidth from its points of presence at Africa Data Centres and other leading data centres in Nigeria to large enterprises located both within and beyond existing fibre networks.

The approach provides an alternative in locations where traditional fibre deployments can be expensive, time-consuming or difficult to implement. It also supports network resilience in areas where fibre cuts can result in outages lasting several days before services are restored.

Over the past two years, Liquid has deployed nearly a dozen Taara links across Lagos. The links are being used to provide high-speed connectivity to large local enterprises while improving network resilience across key commercial areas serving internet service providers, banks, hotels and a utility company.

Nigeria remains one of Africa’s largest economies, with some analysts reporting faster economic growth in 2026 than in the previous five years. Lagos, as the country’s largest and fastest-growing commercial hub, presents particular challenges for network expansion because of its dense urban environment.

As enterprise demand for connectivity increases, operators are turning to a combination of technologies to extend network coverage and strengthen redundancy. Liquid is using Taara’s wireless optical technology to expand connectivity in some of the country’s more challenging environments.

The technology uses highly focused beams of light to transmit data wirelessly, allowing operators to establish links within days rather than weeks. This can help accelerate customer deployments while working alongside existing fibre infrastructure.

Liquid is also assessing opportunities to extend wireless optical communication to additional Nigerian locations, including Abuja, Ibadan and Kano.

“For Liquid, deployment speed has been one of the most significant advantages. Traditional fiber deployments aren’t always a possibility, especially across difficult terrains. Taara links can often be installed and activated within hours, allowing Liquid to ensure it is remaining true to its mission to create a digitally connected future that leaves no African behind,” said Eugene Uka, Acting Chief Executive Officer at Liquid Intelligent Technologies Nigeria.

“As demand for connectivity continues to grow, operators need more flexibility in how they expand and reinforce their networks,” said Bhavesh Mistry, Regional Lead for Taara in Africa. “Fiber remains an essential part of modern communications infrastructure, and will for some time, but there are many situations where deploying fiber 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.”

Taara Lightbridge provides a connectivity option positioned between fibre and conventional radio-frequency technologies. It can deliver up to 20 Gbps of capacity over distances of up to 20 kilometres using narrow, invisible beams of light.

The platform allows operators to deploy high-capacity links without trenching, spectrum licensing or extensive civil works. This can help address connectivity gaps in locations where conventional infrastructure deployment may otherwise be impractical.

Taara Lightbridge is currently deployed in more than 20 countries by operators including T-Mobile, Airtel, Digicel, Liquid and SoftBank. The technology is being used to extend and reinforce network capacity across urban, rural, remote and hard-to-reach environments.