Google Ups the Ante with Broadband February 25, 2010
Google to Get Even Bigger with Broadband Offering
Thought you already couldn’t get enough of Google. It’s everywhere. Gmail, YouTube, the best search engine ever. I’ve read that Google’s home page gets 1.5 billion visits per day. Incredible. So Google is everywhere …. all at once. And it’s already providing much of what you use on a daily basis. With the new Google Buzz that promises to get even bigger.
Now Google has announced their intentions to enter the broadband service provider market. Their proposed fiber-optic offering will bring users 1-gigabyte-per-second speed. That’s 100 to 200 times faster than what we’re all currently used to … just stop for a moment and imagine that. Imagine a high definition movie downloaded in five minutes. Imagine.
It’s not going to happen tomorrow or even next week. In fact, I’ve not yet seen a good timetable, but if anyone can do it - it’s Google. They’re working with local governments and members of the public to get a feel for the interest level of such a service. I guarantee it will be high - the buzz on the net about it over the past couple of weeks certainly indicates that.
Google’s plan is to find a good test market of approximately 50,000 people to roll it out to. Then, eventually up to 500,000 and beyond. And this will be offered to businesses as well … not just residences.
At this stage of the process, Google wants to gauge everyone’s interest. If you want to nominate your area or city as a test market, go to Google Fiber for Communities website before 3/26/2010. Click the big, blue “get involved” button, then select the proper form, based on whether you’re a local government official or a community resident. Google’s form asks you a few questions including why you think your area should receive Google broadband and some questions about what is currently offered in your city.
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