Google Fiber Network Invites Chicago, Los Angeles to Join (12/08/2015)

In December 2015, Google invited Los Angeles and Chicago to join the growing Google fiber network, which offers an Internet connection speed as fast as 1 gigabit per second for uploading and downloading.

Fiber optic Internet is the fastest kind of broadband technology currently available - much quicker than traditional metal cables. It comes with considerable benefits for businesses, particularly given the rising popularity of hosted and cloud-based solutions and services. These days, it's Everything as a Service, from Backend as a Service (BaaS) to Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) to (Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) - and beyond. Additionally, more and more people work remotely or on the go using their mobile devices these days, and bigger bandwidth can help companies more easily accommodate employees outside the office.

Google Fiber isn't the only one looking to bring high-speed Internet to Chicago: AT&T has also announced plans to offer 1-gigabit fiber Internet service in Yorkville, Plainfield, Skokie, Oswego, and Elgin.

Still, Chicago's access to the Google Fiber network isn't a sure thing yet. Google needs to go through its checklist process and analyze information about the city that could affect local fiber network construction.

Now that Chicago is receiving attention from a couple of fiber Internet providers and the race to bring high-speed Internet to the area has begun, pricing for bigger bandwidth will become more competitive. Local businesses can expect to see bandwidth costs go down during the next several years, as every consumer and company gains access to low-cost, high-speed broadband.

If you don't have fiber in your building yet, anticipate potential circuit delivery delays of up to six months. Additionally, fiber Internet has high one-time build out costs. Your provider will install a fiber optic cable for your building. This could involve either an aerial or underground installation, depending on previous utility delivery methods. There's also the cost of connecting your building to the provider's core or backbone network, extending the circuit, and building a wall field.

"Last mile" Internet providers - which connect buildings to the broader telecommunications network - usually include AT&T, Zayo, Comcast, XO, Cbeyond, Light Tower, and Birch in Chicago. Many Internet service providers want to take advantage of the opportunity to increase revenue by delivering last mile connections. Typically, last mile providers will need to rent space in a building to install equipment. As a result, it can take a while to negotiate leases for buildings without the necessary apparatus already in place.

Third-party fiber Internet service providers can effectively deliver broadband by leveraging any one of these last mile providers. Although historically AT&T owned almost the entire last mile copper network, the advent of fiber Internet means there's a new race to provide the last mile of service.

Converged Communication Systems partners with many voice and Internet providers nationwide. See a complete list of nationwide service providers here, and visit our provider news page for more important updates from the carrier services world. For more information on voice and Internet service providers and their services, contact us today: sales@convergedsystems.com or (877) 598-3999.