In the past few years, Google Fiber has been spreading slowly across the U.S., and its recent acquisition will bring it to five additional cities. With a goal to reduce cost and increase availability of high-speed internet, along with its recent license with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the service’s growth is ready for the fast lane. Here are six things you need to know about it.
It’s been developing slowly, until now
Many people assumed Google Fiber would be up and running in all major cities almost instantly — it was a Google product, after all. Obviously, that wasn’t the case. But now we’re seeing some light at the end of the tunnel, since the service is focused on 5G. Thanks to its acquisition of Webpass, a company that was invested in 5G networks and wireless technology, along with a license granted by the FCC to explore “experimental radio service” in 12 cities over the next two years, the tech giant is planning to plow ahead.
Cities currently offering Google Fiber
- Atlanta, GA
- Austin, TX
- Charlotte, NC
- Kansas City, MO
- Kansas City, KS
- Nashville, TN
- Provo, UT
- Salt Lake City, UT
- The Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill (Triangle) area, NC
Cities on Google Fiber's radar
The following cities have been confirmed as upcoming Fiber locations:
- Huntsville, AL
- Irvine, CA
- San Antonio, TX
- San Francisco, CA
Potential locations include:
- Chicago, IL
- Dallas, TX
- Jacksonville, FL
- Los Angeles, CA
- Louisville, KY
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Phoenix, AZ
- Portland, OR
Speeds you can expect
No question about it, Google Fiber speeds are very fast. A gigabit per second, or 1,000 Mbps, is attractive, especially for households that have multiple internet users and devices. Multiple computers, laptops, mobile devices, and tablets can really bring down a traditional internet connection. With Fiber, multiple devices can stream simultaneously without causing any performance issues.
Google Fiber is affordable
The monthly cost of Google Fiber varies depending on your location, but each city’s cost is relatively in the same ballpark. If you live in Charlotte, for example, you can get internet plus TV for $130 a month, plus an additional $10 if you want to add Fiber Phone.
These prices don’t include applicable taxes and fees, but they’re quite affordable for the speed delivered.
Get more than high-speed internet
Along with quicker internet connection, you can add Fiber TV and Fiber Phone. TV grants you access to 150+ channels, and with Google Cast built in, you can watch anything on your mobile phone or computer on your TV screen.
With Fiber phone, you can receive unlimited nationwide calling for an additional $10 per month to your bill. Google also offers its users spam-filtering, which many would agree is worth the extra cost.
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