Google Fiber

Google Fiber is a project by Alphabet Inc. to build a high-speed fiber optic network . The data transfer rate is up to one gigabit per second (1 GBit / s) and is symmetrical, so upstream and downstream are equally fast. Until the founding of the Alphabet Inc. holding company as part of the restructuring of Google , it was still a Google project.

The construction of the partially experimental broadband internet infrastructure began in Kansas City (Kansas) and Kansas City (Missouri) , which were selected from more than 1,100 applying communities. On March 30, 2011, Google announced that Kansas City, Kansas, would be the first city to set up the new network. In April 2013, Google announced that Google Fiber would also be set up in Austin (Texas) and Provo (Utah) .

Experimental character

Google's approach to the project differs from traditional network operators:

In order to avoid expensive civil engineering work , Google laid the lines in Kansas City over existing, above-ground masts.
So far, Google has waived a telephony function, supposedly because of high costs. However, the first tests are currently underway.
Google builds the set-top boxes and routers used itself.

In June 2016, the provider Webpass was also taken over by Google Fiber, which uses point-to-point wireless connections to offer fiber optic networks without civil engineering work. Google Fiber announced that it would test the new technology and use it to build new networks by the end of 2017.

Business model

Experts doubt the business model of Google Fiber. The cost is estimated to be $ 850 to $ 1,250 per customer.

In order to keep costs down, expensive civil engineering work was avoided and only parts of the city where enough people registered. Part of the cost is financed by taxpayers' money. Google offers a gigabit line for $ 70, with cable TV for $ 120 per month. There is also a seven-year guarantee with 5 Mbit / s bandwidth, with no monthly fees after a one-time payment of 300 US dollars.

In August 2016, the parent company Alphabet asked Google Fiber to lay off 500 of its 1,000 employees - after losing $ 280 million in the quarter. The fiber optic expansion in San José was ended.

Web links

Commons : Google Fiber - collection of images, videos and audio files

Official website (English)
Official Blog (English)

Individual evidence

^ Daniel AJ Sokolov: Revolution at Google: spin-offs and a holding. heise online , August 11, 2015, accessed on September 9, 2015 .
↑ Google Fiber KCK
↑ Miguel Helft: Hoping for Gift From Google? Go jump in the lake. (en) The New York Times , March 21, 2010, accessed November 14, 2012 .
↑ More than 1,100 communities seek Google network. The Huffington Post , March 26, 2010, archived from the original on March 26, 2010 ; accessed on September 8, 2017 (English).
↑ Ultra high-speed broadband is coming to Kansas City, Kansas. Google, March 30, 2010, accessed November 14, 2012 .
↑ Google Fiber's Next Stop: Austin, Texas. Google, April 9, 2013, accessed April 9, 2013 .
^ Google Fiber — On the Silicon Prairie, the Silicon Hills, and now the Silicon Slopes. Google, April 17, 2013, accessed September 24, 2013 .
↑ André Kramer: Google Fiber is to offer VoIP in the USA in the future , heise online, January 30, 2016
↑ ^a ^b Achim Sawall: Google Fiber: You can earn money with 1 GBit / s without a volume limit , Golem.de, May 31, 2013, accessed on January 28, 2017.
↑ Achim Sawall: Google Fiber buys wireless gigabit provider Webpass. In: golem.de. June 23, 2016. Retrieved August 28, 2016 .
↑ Technology Review: Foray into the Fiberhood , accessed September 23, 2013
↑ Ben Schwan: Experts doubt the "Google Fiber" business model , heise online, November 20, 2012, accessed on January 28, 2017.
^ Daniel AJ Sokolov: Google brings fiber optics to Texas , heise online, April 10, 2013, accessed on January 28, 2017.
↑ Sebastian Grüner: Google Fiber is said to be too expensive for Alphabet. In: golem.de. August 26, 2016. Retrieved August 28, 2016 .

[1] Daniel AJ Sokolov: Revolution at Google: spin-offs and a holding. heise online , August 11, 2015, accessed on September 9, 2015 .

[kck-2] Google Fiber KCK

[3] Miguel Helft: Hoping for Gift From Google? Go jump in the lake. (en) The New York Times , March 21, 2010, accessed November 14, 2012 .

[4] More than 1,100 communities seek Google network. The Huffington Post , March 26, 2010, archived from the original on March 26, 2010 ; accessed on September 8, 2017 (English).

[5] Ultra high-speed broadband is coming to Kansas City, Kansas. Google, March 30, 2010, accessed November 14, 2012 .

[6] Google Fiber's Next Stop: Austin, Texas. Google, April 9, 2013, accessed April 9, 2013 .

[7] Google Fiber — On the Silicon Prairie, the Silicon Hills, and now the Silicon Slopes. Google, April 17, 2013, accessed September 24, 2013 .

[8] André Kramer: Google Fiber is to offer VoIP in the USA in the future , heise online, January 30, 2016

[golem-9] Achim Sawall: Google Fiber: You can earn money with 1 GBit / s without a volume limit , Golem.de, May 31, 2013, accessed on January 28, 2017.

[10] Achim Sawall: Google Fiber buys wireless gigabit provider Webpass. In: golem.de. June 23, 2016. Retrieved August 28, 2016 .

[11] Technology Review: Foray into the Fiberhood , accessed September 23, 2013

[12] Ben Schwan: Experts doubt the "Google Fiber" business model , heise online, November 20, 2012, accessed on January 28, 2017.

[13] Daniel AJ Sokolov: Google brings fiber optics to Texas , heise online, April 10, 2013, accessed on January 28, 2017.

[14] Sebastian Grüner: Google Fiber is said to be too expensive for Alphabet. In: golem.de. August 26, 2016. Retrieved August 28, 2016 .