Google Fiber is an exciting new development in the world of internet connections. Google announced that it was creating its own internet service and rolling it out to select cities at a conference in 2012. The Google Fiber network is much faster than other internet offerings currently available. Top speeds for Google Fiber reach 1,000 Mbps, which is about ten times faster than a typical connection product from other internet service providers. This so-called gigabit capacity enables users to download content far faster than has been possible up until now.
Google Fiber originated as an experiment in Kansas City. Since then, it has expanded to cover Austin, Texas and Provo, Utah. Creating the fiber network is a complex and expensive process, so Google has a careful vetting process to determine where to expand the service. The company wants to ensure that it will get enough subscribers to make the rollout worthwhile. In addition, because of the scale of the project, Google needs to talk to city government officials in order to get access to city markets. Google needs to convince these regulators that it is beneficial to deploy fiber service to the city. The process of installing fiber frequently involves digging up streets and yards, so it can have an effect on traffic.
That is why it takes so long for Google Fiber to reach new cities. Google has to both gauge how many subscribers it can expect and work out the legal details of operating in a given city before it can even begin installing fiber. It generally tries to solve the first problem using polls. It goes from neighborhood to neighborhood in prospective cities, asking each household if they would sign up if the service was available. Then Google determines if enough neighborhoods would switch to Google Fiber to see if the whole city will be profitable. Some cities might never be eligible if the terrain is too difficult to manage.
The regulatory hurdle is more complicated and less predictable. It is not easy for Google to negotiate with city officials to get access to a city. Some cities will be happy to host Google, others will need a little convincing, and some will be opposed. It is hard to predict which cities will be more welcoming as well as how long it takes to get approval in each possible city. They don’t want to make an investment in trying to get into a city, only to get drawn into long discussions with regulators or encounter unfriendly legislation.
Finally, the bottom line is that Google Fiber is just one of many Google products. Google diverts its resources among many different projects, and Google Fiber is just the latest such project. This is the main reason progress in expanding to new cities has been so slow. Google is involved in so many other things that it cannot spend the time and money necessary to roll out Google Fiber rapidly across the country.
It is true that Google Fiber has the capacity to change the entire Internet market when it arrives in a city. In some prospective cities, local ISPs either reduced prices or increased speeds when Google speculated about coming to that city. This took place before Google had even begun laying cable. Some regions of the nation have only one ISP or simply have to rely on VSAT internet, so there is no effective competition, and others have just two. The arrival of Google Fiber can shake up these stagnant markets and affect the value of Internet service even for households that do not switch to Google Fiber.
It is impossible to predict which cities Google Fiber will reach next. Generally, Google is in talks with several cities at the same time, and they periodically announce expansions to new cities. If you are curious about whether Google is planning to try expanding Fiber to your area, it is worth it to simply ask them. The Google Fiber team has a support staff that is available for questions. Google also has a signup form, where you can enter your email and physical address to get updates about any plans Google has to bring Fiber to your area.
If you are not lucky enough to live in one of the few cities where Google Fiber exists or will exist soon, don’t give up hope. There is no evidence to suggest that Google is slowing down, so it might not be long before there are Google employees digging up the street to install their brand new network.
source: Vincent Stokes
Tags: article, Google Fiber, technology
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