It has been suggested that Google started their fiber based internt service to create a push for faster speeds in the market. It is no secret that Google derives a significant part of its revenues from the internet, with products like their popular search engine and YouTube. Hence, faster speeds would spur consumption.
Whether the strategy worked or not, why would consumers care as long as they have more choice for a product? The 1,000 MBPS plan of Google, which is the only plan offered, places it amongst the best internet services around, wherever it exists.
And it keeps things really simple. If you in a location covered by the service, you get 1,000 MBPS. Period. Enough for a house full of people.
This guide will provide information on:
Google Fiber Internet Plans
| Plan Name | Download Speed | Upload Speed | Bandwidth | Connection Type | Regular Price | Sales Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiber 1000 | 1000 MBPS | 1000 MBPS | Unlimited | Fiber | $70 per month | $70 per month |
| Webpass | 1000 MBPS | 1000 MBPS | Unlimited | Fiber | $70 per month | $700 per year |
Why choose Google Fiber?
A month is all you need to commit for To ensure Google Fiber is available to the most number of people on the network, no contracts are asked for. This is applicable to both Fiber as well as Webpass. The beauty of simplicity. Only one plan. We have all experiencing a gradual migration of services to the internet over the last few years. It has now become an indispensable part of our lives. To make the most of the new normal, it is important to be internet-ready in the most optimal manner. Apart from reliability, speed of the connection is one of the most important aspects. Whether it is video conferencing, home working, gaming, or anything else, a fast and reliable connection where you can both download and upload with equal facility is what Google Fiber is all about. With Wi-Fi and extenders, many people use the internet simultaneously for different applications. The single plan ensures satisfaction for all users as well as removes the dilemma of a choice between plans. Google Fiber customer service – oasis in a desert Customer service, as well as CSAT scores, have been notoriously poor in this sector of the economy. Google Fiber promises to change that with its customer service. In various surveys Google Fiber is tending to the top of the heap, ahead of many established players in the industry. While issues with installation and billing remain, it is being said that the customer service of Google Fiber is as helpful as Google search. Interpret it whichever way you want. Transparency is charges Google Fiber has made an attempt to publish the various fees that could be charged to ensure that customers do not get a surprise, more like a shock. What can be expected is this:- $10 as a security deposit that is available for any other fees charged to the account.
- $300 as construction fee, which is waived in case you commit for a year; even paying in 12 instaments of $25 each is a valid option.
- Nil early termination fee.
Pros
- It has been identified as the fastest internet services provider (ISP) in multiple surveys and tests.
- Backed by Google, one of the most valuable companies on the planet.
- A monthly commitment at a time is all it asks consumers for, making it easy for everyone to consider the service.
- The service is available at prices that can be considered reasonable, if not downright cheap.
Cons
- The reach is limited. They cover a few identified urban locations. Within these urban locations too, the coverage could be limited.
- Despite a launch over a decade back, the US buildout has slowed down over the last few years.
Google Fiber Internet Coverage
Google Fiber is available in a few identified, mainly urban, locations around the country. These are:
- Huntsville, AL
- Oakland, Orange County, San Diego, and San Francisco, CA
- Denver, CO
- Miami, FL
- Atlanta, GA
- Chicago, IL
- West Des Moines, IA
- Kansas City, KS and MO
- Charlotte and The Triangle, NC
- Nashville, TN
- Austin and San Antonio, TX
- Provo and Salt Lake Valley, UT
- Seattle, WA
Google Webpass is available in the following locations:
- Oakland, San Diego, and San Francisco, CA
- Denver, CO
- Chicago, IL
- Miami, FL
- Nashville, TN
- Austin, TX
- Seattle, WA
Frequently Asked Questions
Fiber is the latest technology for offering internet. It uses delicate fiber-optic cables containing glass or plastic filaments that use pulses of light to transmit information. In other words, transmitting at the ‘speed of light.’
Apart from being ultra fast, fiber also offers symmetrical download and upload speed. While traditional networks like Cable and DSL offer much slower upload speeds as compared to download, with Fiber, users get the same speed on uploads as they do for download. For many applications like gaming, as well as video conferencing since many people now work from home, fast upload speeds are of great benefit.
The downside remains its limited coverage, as most providers are in the process of building it out. The initial focus is on the urban areas where a larger number of consumers can get the benefit for every additional mile of fiber installed.
Google Fiber rollout has slowed down over the last few years. In a bid to enhance coverage rapidly, Google Fiber acquired a company called Webpass that was providing internet services to apartments and office buildings in a few cities like Seattle, Atlanta and Miami.
Webpass created an extensive network of relays between towers in these cities, and connected office buildings and apartment blocks to their network. Hence, the Webpass network covers only selected buildings in a few cities. Occasionally, the service could be slowed down if the building’s infrastructure is not able to handle the Gig speed. Though it is not traditional DSL or Cable or Fiber or Satellite internet, if you are in the right building, you can get 1,000 MBPS download speed with Webpass.
The information you provide at the time of signing up will go into our database. You will have access to edit that information at any point of time.
Google may collect usage information submitted by the users, such as clicks on the remote of Google Fiber TV. The objective remains to provide you with the best experience over time. Technical information pertaining to your connection may also be collected for this purpose.
You can read more about the information Google may collect from users or from the use of Google services, in the Google Fiber Privacy Notice and Google Privacy Policy.
In the areas served by Google Fiber, plans are available for businesses as well. The two plans for businesses are:
Fiber Business 1000: At $250 per month, with equipment included and no data caps. Download/upload speeds up to 1,000 Mbps.
Fiber Business 250: At $100 per month, with equipment included and no data caps. Download/upload speeds up to 250 Mbps.
If you are in a place that already has a Google Fiber Jack or ethernet plate connecting to the Google Fiber network, you can do a self-installation. If you are not eligible for a self-installation, you will not see that option when you place an order for the service.
Minimal skills, and no tools, are required for Setting up your Internet service yourself. Detailed instructions and all of the necessary equipment are included in the Self-Installation Kit. You can watch a step-by-step video or follow written instructions to connect your router and set up your Wi-Fi network. To learn more about self-installation, you can vist the Google Fiber Help Center.
Advanced products like 2 Gigabit internet and security embedded fiber phone might necessarily require a professional installation.
Though it could vary with plan, your internet will probably come with up to two Google Wifi points that are good for most homes. Extra points are available for $100 a piece. These are generally required in spaces more than 3000 square feet or with a layout that is unusual or one that has obstructions along the path the signal travels.
If you have a 2 Gig plan, you’ll get to use Wi-Fi 6 and a Google Fiber Mesh Extender to handle even more wireless devices with no interruptions, congestion, or dead zones.
About Google Fiber
Not knowing about Google is perhaps not a realistic possibility in today’s digital world. Apart from being well known, it is also one of the most valuable companies on the planet.
The story began at Stanford in 1995 and the first meeting for Sergey Brin and Larry Page. From an initial disagreement over everything, they struck up a partnership and developed a search engine to determine the importance of individual web pages on the internet. The initial name was Backrub which soon gave way to Google.
Their tryst with creating history began in August 1998 when Sun co-founder Andy Bechtolsheim wrote Page and Brin a check for $100,000, and Google Inc. was born. They continued to impress both academicians and Silicon Valley investors and kept growing rapidly. Google outgrew its garage beginnings and eventually moved to its current headquarters (aka’The Googleplex’) in Mountain View, California.
Through a restructuring exercise in 2015, a parent compant by the name of Alphabet was formed. Google and its earlier subsidiaries became subsidiaries of Alphabet, which is now the publicly traded stock on NASDAQ.
Its current capitalization is $1.8 trillion, making it the fifth most valuable company in the world. For Q1 of 2021, their revenues increased 34% over the same quarter in the previous year to $55 billion. Operating income was over $16 billion.
As they say on their website, “The relentless search for better answers continues to be at the core of everything we do. Today, Google makes hundreds of products used by billions of people across the globe, from YouTube and Android to Gmail and, of course, Google Search. Our passion for building technology for everyone has stayed with us – from the dorm room to the garage and to this very day.”
