Google reportedly planning expansive public Wi-Fi services for cities with Fiber coverage

Justin Kahn

Posts: 752   +6

Google has plans to offer public Wi-Fi in areas covered by its high-speed internet service, according to reports. The company sent out a letter to cities that are upcoming candidates for Google Fiber coverage which contained mention of its plans for Wi-Fi service.

The letter didn't go into detail regarding Google's Wi-Fi coverage, only stating that it would like to discuss the matter further along with the related city requirements. Currently Google Fiber is available in Provo, Utah, Kansas City, and soon, Austin, Texas. Now the company has issued the aforementioned letter to 34 additional cities asking for specific data regarding infrastructure, zoning information and possible locations for its main networking equipment.

While Google is yet to officially confirm any of this, the company already offers Wi-Fi service in about 7000 public locations and was previously reported to be expanding its US network. Previous reports even pointed at the company being very interested in becoming an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) on the heels of a large carrier like Verizon or Sprint. Neither its Wi-Fi or possible MVNO services boast much competition to nation wide carriers at the moment, but with the looming Google Fiber expansion, the company is certainly continuing in that direction.

Permalink to story.

 
This is pretty cool. I mean, we all know that Google makes money every time someone uses the internet because they pretty much own Search. But if their method for getting more people to use their services is to provide fast public internet access then that's cool with me. Sounds like a win-win for both us and them.

Not to mention it's probably a lot easier than project loon. http://www.google.com/loon/
 
I have Charter Communications internet service. In the last 3 years their rates have gone from $19.95/mo to $29.95/mo to $39.95/mo and now it is $54.95 without any improvement in service. Google, PLEASE expand your internet service as quickly as you can! Competition is desperately needed.
 
Project Loon is for third world countries that are not stable enough to have the proper infrastructure in place for fiber internet, not for developed countries like the U.S.
 
Doesn't sound real smart. Put wifi in all cities and forget about fiber, perhaps like you mentioned mvno. It would cost a million times less. By the way, my gmail was down for 2 days. Could log on, but received no messages in my inbox.
 
Doesn't sound real smart. Put wifi in all cities and forget about fiber, perhaps like you mentioned mvno. It would cost a million times less. By the way, my gmail was down for 2 days. Could log on, but received no messages in my inbox.

Who would want to send you a email anyways?
 
Back