Google Fiber too slow? 10 gigabit Internet is in the works at Google

By Mike Flacy February 13, 2014

politics western massachusetts fiber optic mess optics google — Image used with permission by copyright holder

According to Google CFO Patrick Pichette, the search giant is working on increasing Google Fiber speed by ten-fold. Detailed within a report published by USA Today, Pichette was speaking at the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet conference when he mentioned that developers at Google are attempting to achieve data transfer rates of 10 gigabits per second. This would be a significant increase over Google Fiber’s 1 gigabit per second rate and a massive boost over the average rate of 9.8 Mbps within the United States.

Of course, it’s unlikely that many U.S. residents will see these speeds within the next year or two. Speaking about the focus on increasing speed and a possible timeline, Pichette said “That’s where the world is going. It’s going to happen. why wouldn’t we make it available in three years? That’s what we’re working on. There’s no need to wait.”

Google Fiber — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Hypothetically, Google could attempt to launch these upgraded speeds in areas where Google Fiber networks already exist, assuming the technology is compatible. Areas like Kansas City, Provo, Utah and Austin, Texas could be the testing ground for 10 gigabit Internet.

Interestingly, these comments coincide with the timing of Comcast’s statement about Google Fiber. In an attempt to justify the recently announced buyout of Time Warner Cable, Comcast representatives said “In today’s market, with national telephone and satellite competitors growing substantially, with Google having launched its 1 GB Google Fiber offering in a number of markets across the country, and consumers having more choice of pay TV providers than ever before, Comcast believes that there can be no justification for denying the company the additional scale that will help it compete more effectively.”

Of course, this argument doesn’t hold much water since Google Fiber has such a small footprint in the United States at this point. It’s unlikely that Comcast executives actually consider Google Fiber a threat, basically due to Google’s slow expansion plans up to this point.

Lead image courtesy of Shutterstock/asharkyu

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