GOOGLE FIBER

WHAT IS GOOGLE FIBER?

 Google fiber is google's fiber-to-the-premise service in the united states, providing broadband internet and television to a small but growing number of locations. The initial location was chosen following a competitive selection process. Over 1,100 communities applied to be the first recipient of the service. On march 30, 2011, google announced that kansas city, kansas, would be the first community where the new network would be deployed. The network is being rolled out to kansas city, missouri, with plans underway for expansion to several other kansas city area suburbs, as well as austin, texas, and provo, utah.

In july 2012, pricing for google fiber was announced. The service offers three options. These include a free broadband internet option, a 1 gbit/s internet option for $70 per month and a version that includes television service for $120 per month. The internet service includes one terabyte of google drive service and the television service includes a two terabyte dvr recorder in addition to the google drive service. The dvr will record up to eight live television shows simultaneously. The television options also include a nexus 7 tablet that will act as a remote control for the system. In addition, television service will also stream live program content on ipad and android tablet computers. Neighbourhoods that receive the service will be selected based on demand.

Is it the fastest in the world?

Everybody hates wires, but if you want crazy speed, they’re the way to go. But maybe not anymore. A team of german scientists have developed record-setting wi-fi that cooks right along at 100 gb/s. You know, like google fiber but times 100.The tech was developed by a joint team from the fraunhofer institute for applied solid state physics (iaf) and the karlsruhe institute of technology (kit), and this isn’t their first record. They already set one for the world’s fastest wi-fi with a 40 gb/s connection a few months ago. These guys are legit.

Like the previous 40 gb/s tech, this new 100 gb/s version uses some super high-frequency signals (237.5ghz) that let you really pack in the data. At 100 gb/s, for instance, you can transmit a whole blu-ray of data in two seconds flat. The catch is that high-frequency signals like this aren’t very good at going through walls like the low frequency ones your average router spits out. So you wind up with something less like a dome of coverage and something more like an invisible cable where the ends need to be able to see each other.

Previously, iaf and kit’s tech was tested to blast data between the peaks of skyscrapers, and this new version could serve as a bad-arse, cheap, and modular framework for patching holes in fiber lines and bringing high-speed internet to places where it’s too cost prohibitive or obnoxious to lay down a ton more fiber infrastructure. Which is to say, a lot of places.

But the best part is, this record probably won’t stand for long. 

When are you getting google fiber?

Google’s one-gigabit service made a big statement, but what’s still far from clear is who actually uses it, and for what.

I was reminded of these questions last week, when netflix said google fiber customers were getting the fastest service in the nation. Then there was the number: 3.8 megabits per second. Huh?  Well, that’s a measure of the performance of netflix streams on the network, not of what your home link is capable of doing.    Google spokesman jenna wandres says netflix servers can only process streaming video at five megabits per second for high definition content. So that explains the number. But it also serves as a reminder that you only need five-megabit speeds to get high-definition netflix (assuming nobody else in the house is using the internet). Keep that in mind next time your carrier tries to up sell you.  How much faster does anybody really want or need? One way to answer that would be to see how many people are actually signing up for gigabit service. Google’s not saying. 

Google fiber offers two different internet speeds—a five-megabit service (for a one-time $300 construction fee) and a one-gigabit service. Wandres said google won’t disclose how many people are taking which. So it’s still murky. A few months ago, there was the tantalizing suggestion that a recent bump-up in speeds in the state of kansas, as measured by akamai, might be due to google fiber (see “google fiber’s ripple effect”).  And as google rolls out the service in other cities, including austin, texas, and provo, utah, there’s evidence that competitors are starting to offer better deals. All of that is good.  And it’s also a great headline-grabber for google. 

But what’s still far from clear is any of us need gigabit service, how many people are actually taking it, and whether they can do anything with it (after, say, the first 100 megabits, allowing plenty of room for multiple video streams and wi-fi losses inside the home).

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About Rakshit Shah

Fullstack & Expert Software developer with Java, Angular & Node skills

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