As I’m sure many of you already know, earlier this week Google confirmed that they would be launching their next-gen ISP Fiber network in the small city of Provo, Utah. Being just the 3rd location to receive the awesome service, and today we’re getting additional details regarding the acquisition of Provo’s current Fiber network called iProvo.
iProvo and their Fiber network has been around for years, but never fully came to fruition and got moving for the city on a mass scale. Provo, Utah is one of the largest cities in Utah and home to nearly 115,000 people, and is also one of the fastest growing start-up company generating cities in the US. So while many were wondering why Provo? That’s why.
The news earlier this week confirmed that the folks from Google have acquired iProvo, the cities current Fiber network, but the details weren’t yet available. Today however it appears that Google got quite the deal. iProvo is worth roughly $39 million but this is more of a deal with the city, than an acquisition. It’s being reported that Google acquired iProvo for just $1 dollar – for legal reasons – and from here on out things will only get better for Provo.
According to the AssociatedPress iProvo cost the city $39 million to build and even those who don’t use it still pay $5.35 a month for the service, and the city will continue to pay for it long after Google takes over. But hey, all those in Provo can pay $30 for the installation fee once Google Fiber goes live, and have free basic (but fast) internet service for 7 years. At least that’s Google’s current plan.
Reports also state that after infrastructure upgrades and such Google looks to build out and expand the Fiber network further by 2015. Looks like other cities will be coming up quick in Utah.
Well, my view is not whether or not a faster fiber is merited, however, I am more concerned with the restrictive media package that resides on these fiber networks! When are Americans finally going to be able to cut-the-cord of packaged programming? I only want to pay for the programming that I want to watch- we need TV media democracy more than we need a fancier, faster cable system! I am nor alone in this view either!
As far as I understand Google fiber is internet access and is either free or very cheap for the community. Google is getting more data in return for people using their fiber lines. It’s a project to bring internet access to areas that are missing it or under represented.
your mistaken here. Its a project to bring the 1Gb service to areas that are already represented by slower internet service to show its a viable alternative.
Google’s fiber is doing fuck all for the area’s without highspeed service(excluding satellite there)
Other cities across the Wasatch Front joined together to build a fiber network called Utopia. It’ll be interesting to see if Google becomes an ISP on that network (since it’s a wholesale model and has multiple ISPs offering service), if they’ll somehow acquire it, if they’ll expand to other nearby cities that don’t yet have a fiber network at all, or just stick to Provo.
@twitter-37263182:disqus Didn’t Utopia eventually go under and get bought out? I have a feeling Google will be expanding soon enough.
nice! now google can watch all the mormons and see what they do.
Two words.. Big Love!
I want tv channels that i want not pay a package for mexican channels i don’t want this my beef with Comcast dish and direct tv the internet is a fast as i need in my part of sw Fla so bend over for Google Yee haw!