Google Plans Superfast Fiber Network for Broadband Access

Google’s plan for world domination took an intriguing turn today when they announced a plan to build and test super fast broadband networks in the U.S., up to 1 gigabyte per second–far faster than most Americans currently experience.

According to a post on Google’s blog, they plan to “offer service at a competitive price to at least 50,000 and potentially up to 500,000 people.” Since getting more people on the web can only help Google’s advertising juggernaut, I can see the costs being lower than their competitors, and I can also see consumers clamoring to hook up to a lightning speed connection after years of middling broadband coverage.

In a report released by Akamai last month, broadband speeds in the U.S. rank us 18th in the world in broadband speed, and last year speeds actually fell across the country. South Korea, China and Japan hold the top three spots.

To locate interested communities, Google has posted a request for information that must be completed by March 26.

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Lesly Simmons is a freelance writer and interactive communications and events specialist based in San Francisco, California.
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