Newsletter
Google Fiber is something that everyone wants. Let’s face it, for $70/month you get gigabit internet in both upload and download speeds. Speeds that for the most part are unheard of from ISP’s (until later this year), and especially at that price. Google Fiber has been offering a free version of Fiber where you get 5Mbps speeds for free, you just pay for installation. Now they are giving away Fiber to those in public housing in the markets where they already have Google Fiber – which currently sits at 9, with 11 more that they are exploring right now. This was actually announced back in July, when Fiber partnered with the Obama Administration, as part of the President’s mission to get internet connectivity to everyone in the US.
The announcement today includes more details about Fiber being given away, this includes some upgraded components for Fiber. Pre-wired jacks that are inside buildings as well as free network boxes which will allow connections to mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. Fiber also announced that they have hooked up 1,300 families in about nine different properties in Kansas City, which was their first market for Google Fiber. Google Fiber hasn’t disclosed the number on properties in the other markets where they have rolled out Google Fiber.
Google Fiber is one of the more expensive businesses under Alphabet. While we learned that it cost a ton to keep the search engine going, it costs a ton to put up Fiber internet in the US as well. Not to mention the fact that they are giving away Fiber for free (although it’s not gigabit internet, but slower speeds), it means it’s going to cost the company even more. Google Fiber started out as a plan to make home internet a bit more competitive, as well as increasing speeds for everyone. Since Fiber first rolled out in Kansas City, we’ve seen ISP’s like Comcast and AT&T begin to roll out much faster internet, and Comcast is rolling out 2Gbps plans later this year (starting with Atlanta and Nashville). This shows that Google has succeeded in bring better speeds to customers, even if they aren’t their own customers. Something we can all appreciate. Although we’d all love to get 1Gbps speeds for just $70/month.