Transcelestial deployed its own wireless lasers at this year’s music festival, offering T-Mobile users much faster 5G connections than the American network operator’s nearest competitor.
In a breakthrough to improve connectivity at large-scale events, Singapore deep-tech startup Transcelestial successfully deployed its proprietary wireless laser technology to provide 5G to attendees at this year’s Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals.
The festival takes place in the remote and windy Coachella Valley in Riverside County, California, where dust storms and wind gusts up to 90 kilometers per hour are frequent, creating significant connectivity issues for organizers and festival-goers.
To solve this problem, Transcelestial was tapped to supply Coachella’s Sahara Stage with a high-speed 5G network using the company’s Centauri device: the shoebox-sized unit creates a secure, invisible laser communications network without the use of physical fiber cables.
Introduced in partnership with T-Mobile, the device promises connections that are more than 7.5 times faster than the US wireless network operator’s closest competitor.
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Several Centauri devices were deployed from mobile cell sites to connect to T-Mobile’s area towers. Their compact size allowed them to be deployed quickly and less affected by wind loads and other weather issues, minimizing the logistical and environmental challenges often associated with installing traditional connectivity infrastructure at such events.
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“How many times have you tried to send a photo or video to a loved one or even livestream at a festival and it just didn’t work? At Coachella, we changed that by using our lasers to provide connectivity to T-Mobile towers,” said Rohit Jha, co-founder and CEO of Transcelestial, who was honored as a 2023 Gen.T Leader of Tomorrow.
“Imagine the possibilities for similar events like Burning Man, the Super Bowl, SXSW, Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, Comic-Con and more – making sure people stay connected, whether they’re sharing moments live or checking in with friends, safer and more fun. Partnering with T-Mobile, we’re redefining how people connect at events, making every experience seamless and unforgettable.”
The successful deployment at Coachella marks a significant milestone for the Singaporean company as it expands its footprint in North America and engages in discussions with industry leaders to drive the widespread adoption of laser technology in fixed wireless access (FWA), broadband and 5G deployments nationwide.
