fiber-to-the-home

Google launches Kansas City fiber net, intros Google Fiber TV

Google launched its 1-gigabit-per-second broadband service in Kansas City today and also unveiled a new interactive television service called Google Fiber TV, in a move it hopes will push the broadband and paid TV industries to deploy speedier networks at a lower cost.

Google Fiber TV is a service that provides interactive search for TV that lets you search your DVR as well as content you have on services like Netflix. It will include a DVR with up to 500 hours of storage of shows and movies all in 1,080p High Definition. You can also record up to eight … Read more

Google preps launch of 1Gbps broadband network

Google will be launching its new fiber-based broadband network in Kansas City next week, according to a company blog post.

Google has set up a special page announcing the launch date of July 26. The company didn't provide further details, but on the Web site it says to check back at google.com/fiber on July 26 for the full announcement. You can also sign on to the mailing list to be alerted when the announcement is made.

The blog GigaOm said in an item about the Google post that invitations had been sent out for a launch event … Read more

Verizon nears Fios network completion

Verizon Communications is nearly finished building its Fios fiber-to-the-home network. And now it will concentrate on expanding its customer base, say executives.

Verizon, which began building its all-fiber network nearly six years ago, is quickly approaching its goal of passing 18 million homes in about 70 percent of its original customer footprint by the end of this year.

Verizon took a bold risk when it decided to build the Fios fiber network. Its telecommunications counterpart SBC Communications, which is now AT&T, decided to invest substantially less capital to extend fiber to the node or to the neighborhood. AT&… Read more

Lafayette, La., finally gets its fiber network

After nearly five years of planning and fighting with local cable and phone companies, the Lafayette Utilities System opened its fiber-optic broadband network for business.

The utility began offering service this week, according to the Lafayette, La. local newspaper, The Daily Advertiser. A small number of customers already have phone, TV, and Internet service. And beginning Friday, LUS will begin marketing the service to customers in the first phase of the roll out. LUS plans to roll out service gradually in three phases and expects to offer a triple play service to all residents throughout the city by 2011.

The … Read more