Google Fiber Apologizes for Atlanta Build Delays By now it's no secret that Google Fiber isn't quite as bullish on actually deploying fiber as it used to be. The company paused most of its deployments in late 2016 and laid of numerous employees, after burning through two CEOs in a matter of several months. The company's been pretty cagey ever since, happy to absorb the hype of the disruptive potential of Google Fiber, without really candidly acknowledging the fact that they overhyped their deployments, then left a large number of cities waiting at the altar for better broadband that never arrived.

Google higher ups became frustrated by the high cost and slow pace of the project, despite numerous warnings from those intimately familiar with how hard it is to disrupt a market dominated by a handful of politically-powerful players. Ever since Google Fiber's been annoyingly vague about what happens next, simply stating it's exploring alternative delivery options (largely wireless) to help reduce costs and speed up deployment times. That has proven frustrating for users in Kansas City that found year-old installation appointments cancelled last year, or users in San Antonio or Atlanta who continue to say that the company's well behind schedule. For its part, Google Fiber this week apologized for the delays in Atlanta, while insisting it's doing everything in its power to meet its build out obligations. "Unfortunately, our rollout in Atlanta hasn’t met our original goals," a Google Fiber spokesperson told the Atlanta Business Chronicle. "That said, we’re connecting new customers in the Atlanta area - and all of our fiber cities - every day," the company said. "At this time, we’re available in over 100 multi-unit residential buildings and portions of several neighborhoods. We’re currently focused on providing an excellent customer experience for our customers, and we continue to engage with partners across the city to work on digital inclusion issues as well." "That said, we’re connecting new customers in the Atlanta area - and all of our fiber cities - every day," the company said. "At this time, we’re available in over 100 multi-unit residential buildings and portions of several neighborhoods. We’re currently focused on providing an excellent customer experience for our customers, and we continue to engage with partners across the city to work on digital inclusion issues as well."







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Most recommended from 30 comments



Economist

The economy, stupid

Premium Member

join:2015-07-10

united state ·AT&T FTTP

8 recommendations Economist Premium Member Very expensive Google is finding out it is a major PITA, and while we all know Google is HUGE, they are not particularly rich. They have about $100B which sounds like a lot, and it is, but deploying fiber costs zillions. Verizon dropped $21B on what little FiOS they did deploy and that was in 10 years ago dollars (so about $26B today). They could spend themselves broke and redline like crazy and still not have a significant footprint of fiber. They have virtually no debt so they could of course issue $50B in bonds but then to what? Make 8% ROI?



What this is a lesson of is 'core competency'. This type of massive infrastructure is far outside Google's core competency and they have very aggressive cash rich competitors who will quickly sacrifice margin to drive Google's ROI into the toilet (to the point Google investors say WTF, Alphabet?).



If Google were really interested in procuring infrastructure to protect their content business, they could simply start buying up cable operators with stock swaps (assuming it passes DOJ muster). They could pay cash for Charter and even Comcast's entire market cap is less than $150B and that is everything including NBC-Universal.

Anonbfd08

@77.111.246.x 5 recommendations Anonbfd08 Anon Google forgot that local pols delay everything unless bribed Google overlooked the horrible fact that local pols delay everything unless bribed. When Google actually tried to install drops and came up against the city bureaucracies that exist to get paid off to allow anything to take place, they became disillusioned and decided that they didn't want to play anymore. Cable companies were very experienced after decades of the reality of bribing local officials. Why do you think they charge so much? Roadkill

Premium Member

join:2008-06-17

united state 5 recommendations Roadkill Premium Member What? Complete bullshit as far as excuses go. I think it is fair to say Google had absolutely no idea how the big boys play ball when it comes to business interruption.

Anon54189

@comcast.net 4 recommendations Anon54189 Anon I am greatfull Why are you all complaining ? if it was not for google fiber we would still me getting low speed broadband, GF shook up the market and got all these other ISP to up their game. They did not offer gig speed until GF came into the game.

tshirt

Premium Member

join:2004-07-11

Snohomish, WA 1 edit 3 recommendations tshirt Premium Member The cherry pickin' song we're sorry

so, sorry

no, not really

it's just silly

for you to even ask.



For the last time

there's no sunshine

in that manhole !!!



the rest was deleted, as not safe for children, with lots of cursing, and single- finger wavin' and stuff like that existenz

join:2014-02-12 2 recommendations existenz Member KC rollout GFBR apparently cancelled some KC registrations possibly due to expensive places to reach (perhaps holding out for fixed wireless, which is testing in KC), but they are definitely still rolling out FTTH in new KC locations. I know of some who were recently connected. PinkySwear

join:2005-09-06

Charlotte, NC 2 recommendations PinkySwear Member GF is certainly in no rush where Charlotte NC is concerned They put conduit beneath my front yard almost two years ago, now. Still not a word about getting any fiber installed in it. They are seriously dragging their feet, and catering to the MDUs (especially new locations) rather than residential service.