Google logo(Photo GEORGES GOBET AFP/Getty Images)
(Atlanta Business Chronicle) Google reiterated Monday it will launch ultra high speed broadband service in nine metro Atlanta cities. But it isn't revealing much more.
On a conference call with reporters that was devoid of details the Internet giant refused to specify when Google Fiber would be available for customers in Metro Atlanta or how much it would cost.
Google will deliver gigabit Internet service which is 100 times faster than basic broadband. In an age of the Internet of things where refrigerators televisions and mobile devices are web enabled demand for super fast Internet connections for consumers is going from nice to have to must have.
Since Google's initial announcement last February ATT has said it will offer gigabit Internet in metro Atlanta while Comcast said it will significantly expand its service in the region.
Scott Levitan director of marketing for Google Fiber explains how it works.
Click here to see if Google Fiber is coming to your street
While metro Atlanta lacks any public gigabit networks several office buildings including Atlanta Tech Village in Buckhead and Alpharetta mixed used development Avalon offer gigabit Internet access to tenants.
Over the next several months Google will lay out fiber infrastructure across nine area cities Atlanta Avondale Estates Brookhaven College Park Decatur East Point Hapeville Sandy Springs and Smyrna.
Google will design the high speed network to cover all nine Atlanta cities area but build it out based on demand.
Google Fiber's business operations chief Kevin Lowe refused to elaborate on when the service might be available in metro Atlanta.
Building a brand new fiber optic network is a really big job Lowe said on the call. We need to build thousands of miles of fiber...in the Atlanta area. We expect this process to take many months.
While Google declined to disclose plan pricing a public document filed with the City of Sandy Springs last year revealed clues on pricing Gigabit Internet TV would cost $120/month Gigabit Internet would cost $70/month.
In metro Atlanta Google Fiber would be mostly limited to residential customers.
Our product offerings are first and foremost focused on connecting residential users Lowe said. Google Fiber recently launched a small business offering in Kansas City Mo. and Provo. Utah where it offers gigabit Internet.
Google's decision to shut out businesses could kneecap economic development efforts. Cities won't have the Google Fiber carrot to dangle in front of fast growing data driven technology financial and medical services companies who trade on Internet speed.
Delivering gigabit Internet to residential customers however creates demand for broadband intensive applications and services for businesses to develop Lowe said.
Our objective is to get critical masses of users connected together he said. We think that's when innovation is really powerful.
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