Google Offers Ultrahigh Speed Internet in Kansas City

The Web search leader, Google made its foray into the market with its new Fiber web service that offers insane speeds that are 100 times faster than standard broadband in Kansas City and also unveiled that new interactive television service called Google Fiber TV, with a hope that it might compel the broadband and paid TV industries to deploy speedier networks at a lower cost.

It was in Mach 2011 when Google made an announcement stating Kansas City would be the first community to get 1 gigabit (Gbps) Google Fiber.

"Google Fiber is 100 times faster than today's average broadband," Milo Medin, VP for Google Access, wrote in a blog post "No more buffering. No more loading. No more waiting. Gigabit speeds will get rid of these pesky, archaic problems and open up new opportunities for the web. Imagine: instantaneous sharing; truly global education; medical appointments with 3D imaging; even new industries that we haven't even dreamed of, powered by a gig."

The $70 fee will pay for ''gigabit'' Internet service, about 100 times faster than a basic cable modem. For another $50 per month, Google will provide cable-TV-like service over the fiber, too, and a tablet computer that works as a remote.

Pre-registration is now available from the Google Fiber website. Registrations are due September 9, after which Google will make an announcement informing which neighborhoods will qualify for the initial level.

Google executives are hoping to bring Internet speeds up to date with existing technology. Currently the market is dominated by Time Warner Cable that costs up to $99.95 for its fastest internet service. But Google Fiber will be 20 times faster.

Google Fiber includes such features as the ability to record eight TV shows at a time and store up to 500 hours of high definition programming. Users can choose to use a tablet or smartphone as a voice-activated remote control.

The company also has offered people in wired areas the option of obtaining a free 5-megabit-per-second broadband connection, but they will have to pay a $300 construction fee.

Patrick Pichette, Google's chief financial officer, said in an interview, "The next phase of the Internet, the next chapter of the Internet is written here today. We believe the Internet should give these high speeds to everyone in the U.S., it's about making it available. Our showcase is here."

Medin concluded saying, "Together we will make Kansas City a place where bandwidth flows like water. We're looking forward to writing the next chapter of the Internet together, right here in Kansas City."