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Google launches 1Gbps Fiber network in Kansas City, unveils TV service
Google has officially flipped the switch on its first self-built, high-speed citywide network today. Lucky residents of Kansas City on both sides of the Kansas - Missouri state line are now able to get 1,000 Mbps download and upload speeds with no monthly bandwidth caps and no overages. The service also includes 1TB of cloud storage, access to a new Google Fiber Television service, and a few other goodies.
Google’s TV service includes traditional channels from major broadcast networks, "hundreds of fiber channels”, on-demand content from services such as Netflix and YouTube, and optional premium movie channels for an additional fee. It offers a fully searchable interface and DVR functionality for up to 500 hours of HD content.
Several TVs within the home can tune in at the same time by hooking each of them up to a small set-top box that also acts as a wireless hotspot. Additionally each home installation requires a Network Box, which offers gigabit routing, Wi-Fi, four ethernet ports, and "simple network management,” and an identical looking Storage Box with 2TB of space to serve as the DVR for all devices in the house.
Google is also making a remote app for iOS and Android tablets that will support video streaming in an upcoming version, and they’re even throwing in a Nexus 7 at no extra charge with every TV package.
There’s an initial $300 construction fee to get the fiber installed at your house but Google is currently waiving it and offering three different packages: Gigabit Internet + TV for $120 a month, an Internet-only plan for $70 a month, and the option to pay the $300 construction fee and get 5Mbps internet access for free for "at least" seven years. Key institutions are getting the full gigabit access for free as well.
Google will deploy the fiber network in areas where there is most interest first. Kansas City residents can vote on where the next rollout should be by paying a $10 fee to preregister.
User Comments: 31
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Nick D said:
Google has been a solid company. They are one of the few that are large enough to pull something like this off. I do hope that this new Google ISP doesn't run into too many problems (since the competition will definitely put as many roadblocks in Google's way as possible). In Canada, our internet pricing is worse than in the United States (40+$ for 18mbit is considered great and soon to be going up in price).
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Lol, how about Lithuania and Europe in general lecture us in the US about macroeconomic policy when it gets its own house in order? The ECB over the last week or so has pretty much admitted what you all are reluctant to hear, that the Euro-zone is one crisis (like a Spanish default) away from flying apart. Greece could still get booted either way.
When euro-zone growth, unemployment and per-capita GDP trumps the US, then talk.
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Its great that Lithuanian gov't spends their budget on things that benefit the people. US gov't is too busy spending money on the "defense" budget so we can blow up the rest of the world when we want their resources.
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google, head to western NC next and you can has cookies. Please? they are still warm...
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1 person liked this |Darth Shiv said:
The free market wins again. If government had complete control of the Internet we'd all be on dialup.Maybe in your country. In Australia our government privatised a natural monopoly and they held most of the country hostage for years on slow broadband.
They actually had faster broadband physically installed but would not make it available until another private company spent money to put competing hardware in. [link]
The current government is trying to rollout fiber to the home to most residences and the opposition is trying to stop it as it is "uneconomical" rather than the perspective that it is relatively futureproof infrastructure investment.
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Wow, awesome speed.
In Indonesia, we pay $70 for 1mbps.
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