Google Fiber is coming to five more states, and its fast internet is sure to make a big impact. The company announced on Thursday that it will bring its ultrafast internet service to Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. This brings the total number of states where Google Fiber is available to 26. Google Fiber’s fast internet is capable of speeds up to 1 gigabit per second, which is about 100 times faster than the average broadband speed in the United States. This means that people can download movies and music quickly, as well as access online games and other streaming services without lag. The service has already made a big impact in some areas where it’s been introduced. In Kansas City, for example, median household income has increased by more than $2,000 since Google Fiber was introduced there in 2013. And in Austin, Texas, the city’s population has grown by 30 percent since Google Fiber was first offered there in 2012. So far, Google Fiber has only been available in areas with good broadband coverage and strong demand for high-speed internet services. But the company says that it plans to expand its service into more areas over time as demand grows. ..
Google said in a blog post today, “our team has spent many months traveling across the country, having conversations with cities looking for the best way to get better internet to their residents and business owners as quickly as possible.” Fiber is currently only available in 12 metro areas across the United States, including Atlanta, GA, Huntsville, AL, Nashville, TN, and Orange County, CA. A few more cities have Fiber Webpass, where high-speed internet is delivered with wireless technology, like the home internet services offered by mobile networks like Verizon and T-Mobile.
Google is currently in talks with city leaders in Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada, and Idaho to roll out Fiber internet — those states currently have no areas covered by Google Fiber. The company didn’t mention each specific area in those states, but the approval process is up to city boards and other local governments.
The only confirmed new city so far is Mesa City, Arizona, which Google announced on July 1 and was approved by the city on July 14. Mesa is the third-largest city in Arizona, after Phoenix (the capital) and Tucson, with a population of over 500,000 people.
Google Fiber was one of the first internet service providers to offer gigabit speeds for homes in the United States when it was founded in 2010. However, Google has struggled to bring it to new areas in recent years, since laying underground cables and setting up other infrastructure is a time-consuming and costly process. The company attempted a new process for burying cables in Louisville, Kentucky to speed up the process, but it had such poor results that Google discontinued service in the area in 2019. Utility poles are another way to deliver fiber to residential locations, but legal battles with competitors like AT&T and Verizon make that difficult as well.
Via: 9to5Google Source: Google Fiber Blog
