On Thursday, Google launched Google Fiber to select households in Kansas City, KS and Kansas 
City, MO.
Google Fiber is “a different kind of internet,” at least according to the marketing materials. As you may have guessed from the name, Google Fiber works with fiber optics and has speeds 100 times faster than “today’s average broadband.”
Google Fiber currently offers three tv and internet packages:
- Gigabit + TV – $120 per month; $300 construction fee is waived
- Gigabit Internet – $70 per month and no construction fee
- Free Internet – it’s not really free because you are required to pay a one-time $300 construction fee or $25 a month for one year. I’m sure this will actually be free many years down the line once Google Fiber is established in more areas.
Google Fiber has built its marketing campaign around community connectedness. Google’s blog instructs Kansas City residents to rally their neighbors and pre-register. If “fiber hoods” reach their pre-registration goals by September 9th, Google will provide free internet service to community buildings.
Their reasoning behind the community “fiber hood” approach is twofold. Google wants community leaders and tech influencers to recruit new customers. They also know that having a large number of community registrations at once will save thousands of dollars in construction fees.
There are a few drawbacks to Google Fiber. Google requires subscribers to sign a one-year contract. This may not be a huge deal to homeowners, but many renters will not find this suitable. And what if the service sucks? I guess you’re stuck with it for a year. Service will also be limited to very few cities and neighborhoods in the early stages. The Google Fiber team wants to ensure there is moderate to high demand before installation and the fiber optic construction will take time.
Residents of qualifying Kansas City neighborhoods are expected to receive service by the end of 2013. There is no word on when the rest of the country can expect Google Fiber internet and tv service.
Here’s Google’s YouTube ad for Google Fiber, the next chapter of the internet!
