Google's Experimental Fiber Network 363
Posted
by
CmdrTaco
from the contact-me-please dept.
from the contact-me-please dept.
gmuslera writes "Not enough speed from your ISP? Google seems to go into that market too. 'We're planning to build and test ultra high-speed broadband networks in a small number of trial locations across the United States. We'll 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. We plan to offer service at a competitive price to at least 50,000 and potentially up to 500,000 people.' The goal isnt just to give ultra fast speed for some lucky ones, but to test under that conditions things like new generations of apps, and deployment techniques that take advantage of it." If they need a test neighborhood, I'm sure mine would be willing.
Re:Old news (Score:5, Informative)
TiSP is WIRELESS - this article talks about fiber to the home
"Google TiSP (BETA) is a fully functional, end-to-end system that provides in-home wireless access by connecting your commode-based TiSP wireless router to one of thousands of TiSP Access Nodes via fiber-optic cable strung through your local municipal sewage lines."
RTFA!
tm
Re:Community Organization? (Score:4, Informative)
Filling in the community organization is optional (not a required field).
Re:What is Google's interest? Data Tracking? (Score:3, Informative)
RTFS?
They want to use it as a test-bed for programmes and services under ultra-high-speed conditions. That's why they're only planning a relatively small roll our (what, less than 1/500 of the US population?).
Re:What is Google's interest? Data Tracking? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:What is Google's interest? Data Tracking? (Score:3, Informative)
Why should you be more fearful of Google doing that as opposed to our current swath of ISPs and Telecoms? Especially given that some of them have been proven to be amenable to wiretapping during the Bush era? Maybe I'm blurring the lines between internet and phone, but a lot of these companies provide both and as the amount of valued information continues to shift away from the telephone jack and to the ethernet cable, it is indeed a valid concern. Sure, some may prefer the Devil they know, but when weighing Pros and Cons, I'm going to side with the guys who didn't need a pardon from Congress, and instead give me excellent email and help me find things online.
Re:Here is what is going to happen. (Score:2, Informative)
I'm inclined to agree with you, but it sucks that innovative companies like Google will have to deal with this.
Notice that prior to laying down the fiber network, they took the town to court to prevent competition:
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/10/want-50mbps-internet-in-your-town-threaten-to-roll-out-your-own.ars [arstechnica.com]
Ooh...ooh, pick me! (Score:4, Informative)
Seriously. Blacksburg, Virginia (home of Virginia Tech) was supposed to have 10bT to every home back in the 90s - the Blacksburg Electronic Village they called it. You would think we'd be sitting pretty for even higher speed by now. It never materialized. We've got Verizon (copper only, 3Mb max speed) or Comcast (formerly Adelphia, ~7Mb max speed, when the moon is full). There are a few other minor players, but they are either geared towards the large apartment complexes or businesses (and make Verizon look inexpensive). Heck, I'm close enough in that my power is from Virginia Tech electric.
I don't need huge total volume, I just want blisteringly fast for shortish periods.
For the love of all that is good... (Score:3, Informative)
in the world, please compete with Comcast and the other monopoly ISPs. The speeds in Chicago finally got upgraded a bit but the throttling, bandwidth caps, and retarded pricing shenanigans still have to go. Comcast is still one of the leaders in customer service douchebaggery so any competition is greatly appreciated. (RCN and Verizon FIOS are the only thing even close, speed wise, but they have never been available in any of the areas I have ever lived in in Chicago.)
Re:Yes. (Score:3, Informative)
Re:What is Google's interest? Data Tracking? (Score:3, Informative)
Since the state of high-speed internet in the US today is basically an abusive oligopoly, Google has a huge interest in changing that market for the better.
The point of Capitalism (Score:2, Informative)
is to reach a monopoly status.
Capitalism only works when there are millions of sellers and millions of buyers.. it is the LEAST profitable system when that happens. When competition happens, suppliers go out of business, because there is no incentive for buyers to buy a more expensive product. Once THAT process is complete, monopoly conditions exist, and prices become out-of-control.
Capitalism is a process, not an end result.