Reports Of Google Fiber Hitting a 'Snag' Are Exaggerated Earlier this week reports emerged that Google Fiber has put two possible deployment markets on hold as it takes a closer look at wireless broadband. A number of news outlets spent the week trying to argue that this meant Google Fiber had hit a "snag" or was suddenly struggling with the realities of the telecom market. But much of the hand-wringing misinterprets Google Fiber's pivot toward wireless as a problem or a misstep, when it's neither.

Google Fiber's interest in wireless isn't new, and it won't come at the cost of its ongoing fiber builds. Under the guidance of former Atheros CEO Craig Barratt, Google has filed applications with the FCC to conduct trials in the 71-76 GHz and 81-86 GHz millimeter wave bands, and is also conducting a variety of different tests in the 3.5 GHz band, the 5.8 GHz band and the 24 GHz band. Some of these solutions will be a great supplement to existing fiber, especially in cities where infrastructure is a nightmare, or companies like AT&T try to block access to utility poles. It's a big reason why Google recently acquired Webpass, a company that uses point to point wireless to deliver broadband in urban markets. But multiple flavors of wireless (including millimeter wave) is just one of several new twists Google Fiber is exploring up to accelerate admittedly slow deployment of broadband into entrenched duopoly markets shackled by regulatory capture. The company has also started partnering with municipal broadband projects like the one being planned in Huntsville, Alabama. It has also begun offering service in markets like Atlanta and San Francisco over existing fiber. It's even examining drones as a delivery option. All of these efforts have one goal: accelerate Google Fiber's disruption of the broadband duopoly. It's a bit absurd to call this a "snag" when it's just adaptation. Only two "possible" markets are actually being temporarily put on hold: Portland, Oregon and San Jose, California. And contrary to reports, wireless is being looked at as a supplement to existing fiber, not a wholesale replacement. Google Fiber says that ongoing traditional fiber builds in locations like Salt Lake City, San Antonio, Raleigh and Charlotte are proceeding as normal. Yes, that means slowly, but nobody (including Google) claimed that building a network from scratch would be fast or easy. "We are working to bring Fiber to as many neighborhoods as possible in Charlotte," the company tells the Charlotte Observer. "We’ll be opening new areas of the city on an ongoing basis. We plan to open signups in additional neighborhoods when network construction is complete in those areas." While incumbent ISPs certainly have a vested interest in the narrative that Google Fiber has gotten frustrated and is giving up, there's no actual evidence to suggest that. The company clearly understands that building a multi-market ISP from scratch will take time and plenty of money, it's just looking at every possible method to accelerate deployment. That's not a "snag," it's just common sense. While incumbent ISPs certainly have a vested interest in the narrative that Google Fiber has gotten frustrated and is giving up, there's no actual evidence to suggest that. The company clearly understands that building a multi-market ISP from scratch will take time and plenty of money, it's just looking at every possible method to accelerate deployment. That's not a "snag," it's just common sense.







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Most recommended from 51 comments



kdwycha

join:2003-01-30

Ruskin, FL 6 recommendations kdwycha Member Nice Option As much as fiber to the premises is nice to have (I have FTTH now) fixed wireless would still be a great option if done right.



People tend to think fixed wireless is WiFi or 4G, it is far from that. You have an antenna on your roof which points to the fixed wireless transceiver to create a point to point connection.



Your home can still be wired with ethernet or you can use your existing wireless router.



If they can keep the latency down, I would switch to Google Wireless if they decide on that type of deployment in Tampa vs Frontiers expensive FTTH.