Google Fiber will soon offer 2Gbps service for $100 a month, a package that includes a Wi-Fi 6 router and mesh extender, the Alphabet-owned ISP announced yesterday.
Google fiber-to-the-home service never rolled out as far as many people hoped, but the ISP is still making improvements in cities where it does provide broadband. The new offering is double the download speed of Google Fiber’s standard 1Gbps service and costs $30 more. While the new offer is 2Gbps on the download side, it will be 1Gbps for uploads.
In addition to fiber-to-the-home, Google Fiber offers wireless home Internet access in some cities through its Webpass service. Even the Webpass wireless service will get the 2Gbps plan, the announcement said. Webpass’ standard speeds today range from 100Mbps to 1Gbps.
The 2Gbps service will initially be available to some customers through Google Fiber’s Trusted Tester program next month, with plans to roll out across “most” Google Fiber and Webpass markets in 2021. The announcement didn’t provide any details on the Wi-Fi 6 router and mesh extender that will be included in the $100 price. Google Fiber provides 1Gbps customers a gateway and router in a single device it calls a “Network Box.”
1Gbps is plenty for most people, and there are millions of Americans without access to anything even remotely close to that. But Google Fiber expects interest from heavy users.
“Why 2 Gig? This year has made this need for more speed and bandwidth especially acute, as many of us are now living our entire lives—from work to school to play—within our homes, creating unprecedented demand for Internet capacity,” the Google Fiber announcement said.
Where, when, and how to sign up
Details on timing are vague, but here’s what Google Fiber had to say about 2Gbps availability and how to sign up:
We’re looking for people to help us test 2 Gig, starting in Nashville and Huntsville next month and in our other Google Fiber cities later this fall. Game changers, super users, and families who need more from their Internet can join the Google Fiber Trusted Tester program to be among the first to put the extra speed to use… Sign up here for an opportunity to be among the first to test 2 Gig in your city.
2 Gig will roll out to all of our Nashville and Huntsville customers later this year, with plans to launch the service across most of our Google Fiber and Google Fiber Webpass cities in early 2021.
You can also visit this page and enter your email and street address to get updates on when 2Gbps will be available. Google Fiber offers either fiber or wireless service in 19 US markets; you can see the list at the ISP’s website.
https://arstechnica.com/?p=1706181