Google to Experiment with 1Gbps Fiber-to-the-Home Internet Connection

Submitted by lalit on February 11, 2010 - 8:59am.

Google is planning to experiment with ultra high speed Internet access by building and testing ultra high-speed broadband networks in a small number of trial locations across the US. Google is aiming for Internet speeds more than 100 times faster than what most Americans have access to today with 1 gigabit per second, fiber-to-the-home connections. The company will offer service at a competitive price to at least 50,000 and potentially up to 500,000 people.

Google’s goal is to experiment with new ways to help make Internet access better and faster for everyone. The specific things they want to experiment on are:

  • Next Generation apps: Google wants to see what developers and users can do with ultra high speeds, whether it’s creating new bandwidth-intensive “killer apps” and services, or other uses Google can’t yet imagine.
  • New deployment technique: Google will test new ways to build fiber networks, and to help inform and support deployments elsewhere, Google will share key lessons learned with the world.
  • Openness and choice: Google will operate an “open access” network giving users the choice of multiple service providers. And consistent with their past advocacy, Google will manage their network in an open, non-discriminatory and transparent way.

Google has put out a request for information to help identify interested communities. Google will consider responses from local government, as well as members of the public. If Google is serious about their fiber-to-the-home effort, they should start the work in their own backyard. Bay Area has one of the worst Internet service providers in the country. Google should start with San Jose, as people are forced to use AT&T DSL service with just 1Mbps speed in many apartment complexes.