Yep, you heard it right, 1 Gigabit per second. You con read the official details from Google here. Google is beginning to roll out fiber optic lines right to peoples homes in hopes to make the internet better and faster for everyone. Be sure to nominate your area by filling out the form here! Most of us have a cable internet connection of some sort. Furthermore, most of us have an slow, overpriced internet connection. To the left is a speed test of my residential internet connection. 25Mb/s down and 2Mb/s up. Sure, that might seem reasonable (at least the download speed, maybe not the awful upload speed), but Google plans to give customers’ speeds up to 40 times faster than that!
What does that mean for users? Think back to about 10 years ago. You got on the internet with your dial-up modem and surfed the web. Then what? Did you log onto Netflix and start steaming movies to your computer? Doubtful, as I’m pretty sure Netflix wasn’t around 10 years ago. But the fact of the matter is, you probably didn’t have a connection fast enough to stream video.
Fast forward a few years and now most of us have a cable internet connection or some other high speed access that lets us watch video in 720p resolution like it was nothing. But why limit ourselves to just 720p? Why not watch videos in 1080p and 5.1 surround sound streaming online? Why can’t you talk to your family via web-cam in 1080p resolution? While users today have access to much faster connections compared to years ago, it’s still not fast enough to stream 1080p easily. The biggest bottleneck in any internet connection is your upload speed. ISP’s like RoadRunner or Comcast only offer you a very small fraction of your connection to upload content with. This severely limits your possibilities with video communication.
I would imagine US Internet Service Providers are getting worried right about now. ISP’s screw over customers more and more every day. Comcast is a good example of this by limiting users to only 300GB of content per month on their internet connection. Google rolling out 1Gbps connections to customers just might be enough for major ISP’s to change their way. Either that or go cry to the FCC.
Google plans to offer the service at a competitive price to at least 50,000 and potentially up to 500,000 people.
Act fact though people, the cut-off date for registration is March 26th!
FAQ From Google
What is Google planning to build?
Google is planning to build and test ultra-high speed broadband networks in one or more trial locations across the country. We’ll deliver Internet speeds more than 100 times faster than what most Americans have access to today over 1 gigabit per second, fiber-to-the-home connections. We’ll offer service at a competitive price to at least 50,000 and potentially up to 500,000 people.
Why is Google doing this?
Our goal is to experiment with new ways to help make Internet access better and faster for everyone.
What criteria will Google use to select the communities for this project?
Above all, we’re interested in deploying our network efficiently and quickly, and are hoping to identify interested communities that will work with us to achieve this goal. We also want to want to work with a community where we can bring significant benefits to residents and develop useful proofs-of-concept that can have a broader impact. For example, we’re looking for opportunities to experiment with deployment techniques that can inform and accelerate broadband deployment elsewhere as well. To that end, we’ll use our RFI to identify interested communities and to assess local factors that will impact the efficiency and speed of our deployment, such as the level of community support, local resources, weather conditions, approved construction methods and local regulatory issues. We will also take into account broadband availability and speeds that are already offered to users within a community. The RFI is a first step – we plan to consult with local government organizations, as well as conduct site visits and meet with local officials, before announcing our final decisions.
When does Google expect to announce a target community?
We plan to announce a target community or target communities this year.
How much will the service cost?
The final price has not yet been determined, but we intend to offer service at a competitive price.
Why would consumers need 1Gbps connections?
In the same way that the transition from dial-up to broadband made possible the emergence of online video and countless other applications, ultra high-speed bandwidth will drive more innovation – in high-definition video, remote data storage, real-time multimedia collaboration, and others that we cannot yet imagine. It will enable new consumer applications, as well as medical, educational, and other services that can benefit communities. If the Internet has taught us anything, it’s that the most important innovations are often those we least expect.
When does Google expect to have a 1Gbps connection up and running?
Today’s announcement is the first of many steps along the way. It’s too early to announce a definite launch date, but our hope is to have a network up and running as soon as possible. Right now our focus is on finding the right communities for our trial.
What do you mean by “at least 50,000 and potentially up to 500,000 people?”
We have not yet determined the size of the trial, which will be based in large part on the availability of appropriate locations. We expect that we will provide this service to a minimum of 50,000 people and up to as many as 500,000 people, most likely in multiple communities.
Can I submit on behalf of a non-city municipality?
Yes, we will accept responses from any type of municipality including counties, military bases, reservations, etc. Please use the “local governments” link if you are a government or municipal official; otherwise please use the “residents and community groups” link.
Who is allowed to submit a response on behalf of a municipality?
Respondents should clearly state the position in which they represent their city. We encourage responses from city managers, elected officials, and mayors. If you do not represent your city, please submit a statement of interest for residents and community groups.
What if I don’t have all the information needed to complete the RFI?
We are asking municipalities to provide as much information as possible about their location, but all submissions are welcome. Please fill in as many of the fields as you can and let us know of any special circumstances that might be affecting your submission.