Google To Potentially Roll Out Municipcal Wi-Fi In Fiber Cities
To misquote a famous grammatically incorrect phrase, "All your Internet is belong to Google." Eventually, anyway. Word on the web is that Google is thinking about deploying Wi-Fi networks in cities where its Google Fiber high-speed Internet service already exists, which would be a double-win for such areas.
According to Computerworld, Google made the disclosure in a document making the round to 34 cities that could be next to receive its Google Fiber network in 2015. However, details are pretty sparse, with Google only saying it will discuss its Wi-Fi plans and requirements during the planning phase.
"We'd love to be able to bring Wi-Fi access to all of our Fiber cities, but we don't have any specific plans to announce right now," Google said in response to the report.
At present, Google Fiber is only available in Provo, Utah and Kansas City, Kansas, with a planned roll out in Austin, Texas. Users in those areas can receive "Basic" Internet service (5Mbps downloads / 1Mbps upload) for a one-time $300 construction fee and no monthly charge, 1Gb Internet $70 per month (with no construction fee), and 1Gb Internet + TV for $120 month (also with no construction fee).
Offering Wi-Fi would push Google increasingly closer to competing outright with telecoms. At the same time, it would be a potential win-win for consumers and Google alike -- the former could use Wi-Fi service to stay under data caps on their mobile phones, and Google would benefit from having more users exposed to its many services.
According to Computerworld, Google made the disclosure in a document making the round to 34 cities that could be next to receive its Google Fiber network in 2015. However, details are pretty sparse, with Google only saying it will discuss its Wi-Fi plans and requirements during the planning phase.
"We'd love to be able to bring Wi-Fi access to all of our Fiber cities, but we don't have any specific plans to announce right now," Google said in response to the report.
At present, Google Fiber is only available in Provo, Utah and Kansas City, Kansas, with a planned roll out in Austin, Texas. Users in those areas can receive "Basic" Internet service (5Mbps downloads / 1Mbps upload) for a one-time $300 construction fee and no monthly charge, 1Gb Internet $70 per month (with no construction fee), and 1Gb Internet + TV for $120 month (also with no construction fee).
Offering Wi-Fi would push Google increasingly closer to competing outright with telecoms. At the same time, it would be a potential win-win for consumers and Google alike -- the former could use Wi-Fi service to stay under data caps on their mobile phones, and Google would benefit from having more users exposed to its many services.
