SG wireless startup to expand in SEA, US with $10m raise

The Transcelestial team / Photo credit: Transcelestial

Rohit Jha, CEO and co-founder of Transcelestial, believes that access to the internet “can be a matter of livelihood.” That’s why the company will expand its wireless laser communication tech – known as Centauri – to five key markets in Southeast Asia and India, bankrolled by its latest US$10 million raise.

Airbus Ventures led the series A2 investment round, with participation from Kickstart Ventures, Genesis Alternative Ventures, and Wavemaker Partners. To date, Transcelestial has raised a total of US$24 million.

The startup is looking to extend its footprint in Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines. Transcelestial will work with telecomms, ISP, and enterprise partners in these regions to deploy Centauri systems, which will deliver 4G, home and office broadband, and campus connectivity.

It will also use the funding to enter the US and explore collaborations with government, enterprise, and telecom leaders in select states.

In addition, the startup will be bolstering its Singapore-based Terabit Factory. The facility can manufacture up to 2,400 Centauri devices annually, making it the largest deployment volume of any lasercomms producer globally.

Using Centauri allows for high-speed internet and connectivity via laser beam, removing the need for underground cables or radio frequency-based devices.

Other investors in Transcelestial’s current round include:

• Cap Vista
• Seeds Captial
• In-Q-Tel

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