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Tarana Wireless is a wireless network provider which offers gigabit-speed over non-line-of-sight connections at long range. The California-based company was founded in 2009 by Dale Branlund, Segiu Nedevschi, and Rabin Patra and is presided by Kranti Kilaru. Tarana has headquarters in Milpitas, California and an office in Pune, Maharashta, India.
The company grew out of research performed by University of California at Berkley engineers, who noticed chip technology advancements and the potential for wireless networking breakthroughs.
The network's Gigabit 1 (G1) broadband differs from traditional Wi-Fi, 4G, and 5G systems in that it dynamically adjusts thousands of times per second to ensure consistent, precise control over radio signals. This eliminates interference caused by variations in speed, jitter, and latency of conventional radios, providing fiber-quality speeds and quality without associated costs.
Tarana is aimed at eliminating fixed wireless obstacles, such obstructions, interference, spectrum scarcity, and conditions in order to reach almost-perfect signal quality at scale. The technology is able to provide one gigabit data transfer in every category of operator including mobile, telecommunications, cable, and wireless ISP at a fraction of traditional costs. It can see around corners and reject interferences, even when using free unlicensed spectrums. These capabilities make it efficient at operating in high-density residential areas and sparse, underserved rural communities.
Additional advantages of the network is that it can send multiple signals to each customer, rapidly hopping among them to find the best-performing connection. It is intended primarily for home use, where users are online for hours at a time and do not want limits on data.
One of the company's first customers is MTN Group, a telecommunications company operating in Africa and Asia. The operator is currently running a trial in South Africa, in an attempt to take over in an area where only 5% of the 18 million households have fiber connections. MTN plans to sell high-speed wireless service, called Unlimited Air Fibre, to 25,000 customers in South Africa and expects to expand to Ghana, Nigeria, and Uganda.
One of the founders, Rabin Patra, came from a wealthy Middle Eastern family, and received $70 million in seed funding from relatives.
The company is funded by Prime Movers Lab, Khosla Ventures, EchoStar, Greg Wyler, and numerous other global investors. Tarana secured $88 million USD in financing March 21, 2019 from Khosla Ventures and EchoStar; the funding was a followup to $28 million in financing led by 1010 Holdings, the family offices of Greg Wyler, and placed Charlie Ergen of EchoStar, Samir Kaul of Khosla, and Greg Wyler on Tarana's board of directors. Kranti Kilaru also stepped down from his role as EVP of EchoStar to join Tarana as President.
Tarana announced $50 million in growth-stage preferred stock funding on May 12, 2021, led by Prime Movers Lab. The financing is planned to scale production of the company's wireless broadband technology, which is used for company growth and working capital to meet demand for its Gigabit 1 (G1) broadband access family of products.
