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Google planning experimental high-speed Internet service
Google Inc. certainly intends to be jack of all trades. After having its own search engine, operating system, smartphone, mobile OS and DNS service it is also planning to offer ultra-high-speed Internet services.
by Priyanka - February 11, 2010 - comments
According to Google’s official blog post on Wednesday, the Internet search giant is building an experimental fiber network that will "deliver Internet speeds more than 100 times faster than what most Americans have access to today with 1 gigabit per second, fiber-to-the-home connections."
Initially, the service will be provided to a small number of U.S. cities, for 50,000 to 500,000 people. Google also put out a request for information “to help identify interested communities.”
According to Minnie Ingersoll, product manager of Google's high-speed broadband initiative, "Our long-term vision is to see a better, faster Internet. When everyone had dial up, we couldn't imagine what broadband speeds would be like. By increasing speeds by 100 times faster than what's offered today, we can create opportunities for services that we won't even be able to envision now."
Google’s aim behind the latest move
According to Google, it has no intention to build a network sprawled across nation, to challenge rival networks like Verizon Communications and Comcast Corp.
Google’s network will be primarily designed to serve three main purposes: to pave way for development of next-gen apps, to explore new techniques of installing fiber networks and to give a model for an open access network governed by network neutrality rules.
However, the move has the potential to make Google’s investor’s and rivals nervous, given the sheer size of plans expenditure.
It could be Google’s latest attempt at pressurizing Internet service providers to upgrade and open their networks. The company could also end up facing embarrassment if the plan fails since Google has no experience in the area.
Public interest groups welcome Google’s move
Google’s announcement had been received by the public-interest groups with excitement. They see it as a major step towards building a new era in open-Internet and broadband services.
The FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski in a statement applauded Google’s plan and called it as "a significant trial."
Genachowski said, "Big broadband creates big opportunities. This significant trial will provide an American test bed for the next generation of innovative, high-speed Internet apps, devices, and services."
Some experts believe that Google has vested interest in improving Internet speed. It intends to keep users on the Internet for a long period of time, accessing its Google’s sites and clicking on its ads.
When people will not have constrained bandwidth, they will certainly spend more time on Web browsing.
Yankee Group analyst Benoit Felten said, "One thing's for sure: This is a big kick in the anthill. It likely has broadband network operators shaking in their boots."