Another possible Google Fiber expansion announcement later this year
As expected, Google Fiber is coming to 18 new cities in four metropolitan areas, according to a Jan. 27 announcement from the company.
The high-speed Internet and HD television service is planned for the Atlanta; Nashville, Tenn.; and Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham, N.C., areas.
Google Fiber VP Dennis Kish wrote in a company blog that, “We can’t wait to see what people and businesses across the Southeast U.S. do with gigabit speeds.”
Google Fiber is currently available in Austin, Texas; Provo, Utah; and Kansas City, Mo.
In greater Atlanta, Google Fiber is planned for Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, College Park, Decatur, East Point, Hapeville, Sandy Springs and Smyrna.
The Raleigh-Durham metropolitan area deployment includes Carrboro, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Garner, Morrisville and Raleigh. Known as the Triangle or the Research Triangle, the area encompasses North Carolina State University, Duke University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and numerous tech-based enterprises.
Kish outlined the next step as working with cities to plan the physical deployment by using existing utility poles and underground conduit. The planning will be followed by construction.
“Bringing Google Fiber to these cities is a long-term investment. We’ve been working closely with city leaders over the past year on a joint planning process to get their communities ready for Good Fiber – and now the work really begins.”
Kish also hinted at another announcement “later this year” regarding other potential Google Fiber cities: Phoenix; Portland, Ore.; Salt Lake City; San Antonio, Texas; and San Jose, Calif.
The Austin Google Fiber setup includes an elaborate downtown Fiber Space that’s open to the public.
Google advertises the service as up to 100 times faster than most broadband service.