Gilbert confirms bringing Internet service to downtown

Quicken Loans, Inc. founder Dan Gilbert is helping to set up a fiber optic internet provider for downtown that says it will be 100 times faster than the current residential average.

Gilbert confirmed the new business venture called Rocket Fiber LLC in a twitter message on Saturday. "Yes, it's true. @RocketFiber coming to Detroit in the near future. Fast as Google or faster. Details in a few weeks." said Gilbert from his Twitter account @cavsdan.

Construction is already underway on the advanced fiber optic internet network that will serve residents, local government and businesses downtown, followed by Midtown along Woodward corridor, according to a press release issued Sunday by Gilbert's Rock Ventures.

The press release describes Rock Fiber LLC as "a new community investment initiative." The network's initial scope will cover the central business district from the Lodge freeway to the west, I-75 to the north, I-375 to the east, and the Detroit River to the south.

Rocket Fiber will expand services to residents and businesses in Midtown Detroit along the Woodward corridor.

The website Daily Detroit appears to be the first to report of the new network when it found a job posting on a Quicken Loans site. The position is for manager at a new "fiber optic plant."

In November, the M-1 Rail, the streetcar being constructed from downtown to Midtown, issued a bid for a business to "to provide and install a fiber backbone and internet services" along the pathway.