Google Fiber woke up from a coma

After several years of stagnation, Google Fiber is expanding its service to several new regions. The provider hopes to add five new states to its network, including Nevada and Idaho. It’s an ambitious plan that should bring high-speed Internet to some of the most underserved areas of the United States.

This news is pretty exciting: Google Fiber is finally back in action. The service provider floundered in the late 2010s, likely due to its aggressive (and flawed) expansion strategy. Instead of sticking with conventional network infrastructure, Google Fiber tried to lay cables in shallow “nano-ditches,” a gamble that led to millions of dollars in losses and several canceled projects.

But Google Fiber CEO Dinni Jain explains that after some “behind-the-scenes” refinement of “service delivery,” it’s time to get back to work.

As communities across the country look to expand gigabit Internet access, I’m pleased to say that we’re ready to grow with them. Our team has spent many months traveling across the country, having conversations with cities looking for the best way to bring better internet to their residents and business owners as quickly as possible.

Here are the five states that will get Google Fiber service:

• Arizona, starting in Mesa (Previously announced in July)
• Colorado
• Nebraska
• Snowfall
• Idaho

Additionally, Google Fiber plans to expand its network to Des Moines, Iowa. The service provider added West Des Moines to its network in March, making Iowa the first new state to get Google Fiber service since 2016.

This will be a slow release, of course. Google Fiber could take three to five years to offer service in these new regions. And plans can change if Google Fiber encounters problems during implementation or develops a bad relationship with local governments.

For reference, Google Fiber currently offers speeds of up to 2 Gbps. That’s about twenty times faster than the average home internet speed in the United States, though to be clear, AT&T’s fiber service is capped at 5 Gbps.

Source: Google