Singaporean startup Transcelestial raises $10M to expand its wireless laser network

Transcelestial, a Singapore-based startup that is working to build a network of shoebox-sized devices to make the internet more accessible, has announced that it has raised $10 million in its A2 round.

The company aims to expand its wireless laser communications system across a range of countries, including Indonesia, India, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and the United States. Eventually, Transcelestial aims to use its technology to deploy wireless fibre optics from space.

In the meantime, it’s planning to move beyond its markets in Asia and expand early market access in the U.S., where research by the Pew Trust found that 27% of people in rural areas and 2% of those in cities lacked readily available internet connections.

Transcelestial’s technology has already shown that it can deliver 5G connectivity. The company is now focused on bringing its technology to low-earth-orbit (LEO) constellations, with the goal of deploying its wireless fibre optics from orbit directly into cities and towns.

The funding round was led by Airbus Ventures and featured participation from Kickstart Ventures, Genesis Alternative Ventures, Wavemaker, Cap Vista, Seeds Capital, and In-Q-Tel. The new funding will also be used to prepare the company’s Terabit Factory production facility for potential disruptions in the supply chain.