Google Fiber

Google Fiber is a project to build an experimental broadband internet network with fiber-optic communication[1] in Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri, following a selection process.[2] Over 1,100 communities applied to be the first recipient of the technology.[3] Google announced on March 30, 2011 that Kansas City, Kansas will be the first community where the experimental network would be deployed.[4] On May 17, 2011, Google announced that the service would be expanded to include the Kansas City, Missouri metro area. The service is expected to be functional in early 2012.

Contents

Cost

It has been estimated that Google will need to pay $3,000 to $8,000 per home broadband connection, totaling anywhere from $60 million up to $1.6 billion USD.[2] Google Fiber will be provided "at a competitive price" to the citizens of Kansas City.[5]

Technical specifications

Google Fiber will provide connections at around 1 gigabit per second,[6] which is about 100 times faster access than most Americans have.[6] Despite the advertising claims of internet service providers, the average download speed in the United States is only about 4 megabits per second.[7]

Locations

Selection process

Google originally stated that they would announce the winner or winners by the end of 2010; however, in mid-December, Google pushed back the announcement date of the selected Google Fiber community (or communities) to "early 2011" due to an increase in the time necessary to review all of the over 1,100 applications.[8][9][10]

The request form was simple,[11] and, some have argued, too straightforward.[12] This led to various attention-getting behaviors by those hoping to have their town selected. [12]Some examples are given below:

Municipalities and citizens have also uploaded YouTube videos to support their bids. Some examples:

Trial near Stanford

In summer 2011 Google launched free trial of its forthcoming fiber service in one residential community near Stanford University in Palo Alto, California.[20]

See also

External links

References

  1. ^ HELFT, MIGUEL (2010-03-21). "Hoping for Gift From Google? Go Jump in the Lake". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/22/technology/22stunts.html?src=me&ref=technology. 
  2. ^ a b Malik, Om (February 11, 2010). "How Much Will Google’s Fiber Network Cost?". gigaOm.com. http://gigaom.com/2010/02/11/google-fiber-network-cost/. 
  3. ^ "More than 1,100 communities seek Google network". Associated Press. 2010-03-27. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ilm6prueBb6Uvvsk2OBBaPUqxCQQD9EML45G0. Retrieved 2010-03-27. 
  4. ^ Google Fiber KCK
  5. ^ Google Fiber FAQ
  6. ^ a b Google picks KCK to be its first ultra-fast broadband network site
  7. ^ "Googlenet - A Cure for America's Lame and Costly Broadband?". The Economist. 2010-04-01. http://www.economist.com/daily/columns/techview/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15841658&fsrc=nwl. 
  8. ^ "Google Fiber for Communities". Google. http://www.google.com/appserve/fiberrfi/. 
  9. ^ Medin, Milo (2010-12-15). "An update on Google Fiber". Google. http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/update-on-google-fiber.html. 
  10. ^ Anderson, Nate (2010-12-15). "Google delays its 1Gbps fiber announcement". Arstechnica. http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2010/12/google-delays-its-1gbps-fiber-announcement.ars. 
  11. ^ Google Fiber for Communities
  12. ^ a b c d e Van Buskirk, Eliot (March 11, 2010). "Al Franken Jokes, But Google Fiber Is No Laughing Matter". Wired Magazine. http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/03/al-franken-jokes-but-google-fiber-is-no-laughing-matter/. 
  13. ^ HELFT, MIGUEL (March 26, 2010). "Cities Rush to Woo Google Broadband Before Friday Deadline". New York Times blog. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/26/cities-rush-to-woo-google-broadband-before-friday-deadline/?scp=1&sq=ann%20arbor%20google%20fiber&st=cse. 
  14. ^ Silver, Curtis (March 10, 2010). "I, Google". Wired Magazine. http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2010/03/i-have-renamed-my-house-google/. 
  15. ^ "The 5 Strangest City Pitches for Google's New Fiber-Optic Service". PC Magazine. March 7, 2010. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2361038,00.asp. 
  16. ^ Al Franken YouTube video
  17. ^ Ann Arbor YouTube channel
  18. ^ Ann Arbor GoogleFest
  19. ^ Reed, Tina (March 26, 2010). "Ann Arbor 'mob' makes another case to attract Google Fiber". AnnArbor.com. http://www.annarbor.com/news/ann-arbor-mob-makes-another-case-to-attract-google-fiber/. 
  20. ^ "Google Fiber Goes Live Near Stanford". anandtech.com. August 22, 2011. http://www.anandtech.com/show/4661/google-fiber-goes-live-near-stanford.