Google on Wednesday announced plans to experiment with ultrafast Internet access — more than 100 times faster than most Americans have access to today with one-gigabit-per-second connections. Google expects to offer the fiber service at a competitive price to between 50,000 and 500,000 people in several cities.
Google product managers Minny Ingersoll and James Kelly described several scenarios for the ultrafast connections in a company blog post. In one, they ask readers to imagine sitting in a rural health clinic streaming three-dimensional medical imaging over the web and discussing a unique condition with a specialist in New York.
Other scenarios include downloading a high-definition, full-length feature film in less than five minutes, and collaborating with classmates around the world while watching live 3-D video of a university lecture. Google believes universal ultrafast Internet access can make these possible.
Better and Faster
“This is an interesting experiment. The idea of Google getting into the ISP when they are in so many other businesses is, I guess, not that much of a stretch,” said Michael Gartenberg, a vice president at Interpret. “It will be interesting to see who they target initially to get the service, how much they charge for it, and what type of disruption this creates in the market.”
Google’s stated goal is to experiment with new ways to help make Internet access better and faster for everyone. Google has outlined three specific agendas: Next-generation apps, new deployment techniques, and openness and choice.
For next-generation apps, Google wants to see what developers and users can do with ultrafast connections, whether it’s creating bandwidth-intensive “killer apps” and services or uses people haven’t yet imagined. Google will also test new ways to build fiber networks and operate an “open access” network, giving users a choice of multiple service providers.
“Like our Wi-Fi network in Mountain View…