This site may earn affiliate commissions from the links on this page. Terms of use.

Google Fiber

Over the by year, it's become increasingly articulate that Alphabet, Google's new parent visitor that runs the Access division responsible for deploying Google Fiber, hasn't been thrilled with that segment's performance or cost construction. Now, discussion is that Access employees are being reassigned or terminated, while plans to expand Google Fiber beyond its electric current markets are being substantially overhauled. Going forward, Google wants to offering wireless service, not fiber-to-the-home.

Access is already experimenting with rolling out new wireless devices that would occupy the 3.5GHz spectrum, according to Wired. This ring of spectrum is generally underused — information technology's reserved for certain military machine applications, but this mostly applies to naval stations and satellite basis facilities. Outside of these areas, 3.5GHz isn't utilized. The FCC has drawn upward a proposal that would allow for a 3-tiered sharing system between diverse classes of users to allow for priority admission for the armed forces when required, with other users splitting network spectrum when armed forces use isn't required.

8222108167_42fbe16123

Google Fiber has already begun experimenting with this system in Kansas Urban center, to see how finer it can deliver loftier performance broadband without a fiber pull. The trouble with fiber pulls is uncomplicated: It's extremely expensive to bring fiber-to-the-habitation, and the costs accept been compounded by incumbent telcos who accept sued Google Cobweb in various states to avoid beingness forced to share utility poles or road access. Running a cablevision through yards and nether sidewalks and driveways isn't exactly cheap when y'all accept to tear the landscape autonomously, then put information technology all back together.

Google Fiber has already said it does non intend to leave any of its existing markets, and it will continue to sign upwards new customers for wireline access in cities similar Louisville, Nashville, and San Antonio. Alphabet has petitioned for access to extremely high-frequency bands like 70GHz and 80GHz as well, and purchased the firm Webpass, which is developing these technologies, to further its ain research.

Millimeter-wave absorption frequencies. 60Hz neatly intersects O2.

It's not clear how ready these technologies are for prime number time or if they'll always be widely deployed. One of the known, clear drawbacks to millimeter wave networks is the fact that these frequencies are essentially attenuated by humidity and rain. In the desert, that'southward not much of an result. Anywhere else, it absolutely can exist. 70-80GHz may exist better, since 60GHz has an unfortunate peak absorbtion intersection with atmospheric O2, which makes it ill-suited for our atmosphere.

On the other hand, it's also not articulate consumers want to pay Google Fiber prices for wireless service and the attendant problems that come with information technology. Mod Wi-Fi and LTE networks are vastly more robust and easier to configure now than they were when the first consumer products hit store shelves almost 20 years ago. Only naught beats the speed, reliability, and simplicity of a wired connection. The 3.5GHz band may have more than traction hither, since it's closer to the popular two.4GHz band and should suffer less signal loss over altitude than 5GHz or millimeter wave wireless systems.

If Alphabet kills Google Cobweb's bodily cobweb deployments, we'll exist deplorable to see information technology become. Google's entry into new local markets has oftentimes precipitated cost cuts on services from incumbent ISPs, and consumers accept mostly benefited from higher speeds and lower prices. Wireless access is not a substitute for fiber optic cable. I don't encounter the company having much luck disarming people to sign up for an uncertain service, especially when it'due south based on less-capable wireless standards where operation could depend on ambient weather weather and tree leaf density between access points.