Google Fiber infographic: Will it Take Over the World?
In September 2012 Google launched it’s new service Google Fiber in Kansas City, America. Currently there are 3 options: gigabit internet and high-definition TV service; gigabit internet service alone: or free average-speed internet (there may be a limit on the time it will be free ) for a one-time construction fee.
So how does Google Fiber work? Basically, it is ultra thin glass or plastic strands capable of transmitting data in light form. This offers a huge improvement in speed — rapid download and upload speeds, in optimized networks, that blasts video, audio, text, any kind of data – in the up-to-the gigabit per second range. That’s 100x faster than what most users currently have and means you no longer have to wait on things buffering; everything will be ready to go when you are. So whether you are video chatting, uploading family videos, or playing your favourite online games, all you need to do is click and it’s there. The Fiber TV service boasts all of the standard channels and includes integration with DVR, video on demand, and online streaming services such as Netflix.
When Google first asked for test cities a few years ago the response from Kansas City (both sides of the state line, so both Missouri and Kansas) ultimately won out. However, the plan all along was to expand to additional cities, so Google is looking to roll it out in Austin, Texas, another of the original 1,100 cities that expressed interest in the first round. Considering how long it has taken to get this far if it were to roll out the service globally at a similar rate it would take Google 107.25 years to cover the world! The cost would be around $1.6 trillion to provide the service world wide as the infrastructure is so expensive. However, if it keeps expanding it could compel AT&T and other providers to boost their broadband service and offer it on more reasonable terms, which would be a good thing for the customer base.
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