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FCC fires back at AT&T with questions about its paused fiber rollout
The fallout from President Barack Obama's push to reclassify internet access as a public utility was immediate, and no one reacted faster than the nation's telecom giants. Most issued remarks that characterized the move as a huge mistake, but AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson went one better -- as if on cue, he announced that the company was throwing the brakes on its fiber network rollout because it didn't make sense to sink a ton of money a network infrastructure when no one knew "under what rules those investments will be governed". Long story short, he wants AT&T to wait to build anything until it can get a sense of what the final rules will look like. Naturally, the Federal Communications Commission didn't take AT&T's maneuvers lying down.
AT&T halts fiber build-out until net neutrality rules are sorted
AT&T is putting the brakes on its gigabit fiber internet service. CEO Randall Stephenson revealed this morning that the company will halt the rollout of the network, which launched in Austin last year, until it has solid net neutrality rules to follow. "We can't go out and invest that kind of money deploying fiber to 100 cities not knowing under what rules those investments will be governed," he said.
A single fiber strand could carry the world's internet traffic
Researchers in the US and Netherlands have managed to transmit data at 255Tbps across a single strand of fiber cable over a kilometer (0.6 miles), about 2,500 times faster than any commercial fiber. They used a so-called multicore cable with seven separate channels, but the hardware alone didn't account for the speed. They also squeezed 50 carriers down the seven cores, cranking each up to 5.1 Tbps using "spatial multiplexing." None of that tech alone is new, but the net result of that was 255Tbps (31.8 Terabytes per second), enough to handle the world's peak internet traffic, according to ExtremeTech. Don't expect a speed boost at home anytime soon -- there's no way to mass produce the cables yet, and current infrastructure wouldn't support it anyway. But at least you can look forward to a day when you could download all 317,060 movies in the IMDB in two and half hours.
Google's plan for super-fast internet: tap unused airwaves
One of the problems with a tech company publicly testing anything is that you can start to hope. Hope, almost inevitably, leads to despair, and from despair it's only a short hop to the dark side, or something. With that in mind, we'd suggest you try not to hope too hard when you hear that Google has applied to the FCC for permission to begin wireless spectrum tests in the San Francisco area. According to Reuters, the company's looking into a rarely-used millimeter wave frequency that is capable of transmitting large amounts of data, but only if the receiving equipment is in the line-of-sight.
Google Fiber hits Austin this December
It looks like AT&T's gigabit internet is going to get some new company in Austin come December: Google Fiber. At a recent planning meeting in the Weird City, Mountain View detailed how it'll at long last roll the service out, and, as Gigaom notes, it seems similar to what's been in place in the Kansas City, Missouri area. Just like before, individual neighborhoods will have to commit to using the service for Google to consider putting Fiber there. If your area's selected, you'll have to pay a $300 "construction fee" to access the pipeline but, aside from a free 5mbps package, other pricing details haven't been announced. Itching to sign-up and get yourself on the map? You'll have to wait until the last month of the year for that. It feels like a lifetime ago since we first caught wind of Fiber's Austin appearance, but surely you've used those 18 months to plan your first blazing-fast download, right? [Image credit: StuSeeger/Flickr]
Google Fiber proves it's serious about fast internet with a new leader
Worried that Google Fiber would just be a momentary fascination for the folks in Mountain View? Don't be. Google has confirmed to the Wall Street Journal that it recently hired Dennis Kish, one of Qualcomm's bigger senior vice presidents, to lead its gigabit internet efforts. While it's not clear why Kish came onboard beyond his "operational expertise," he's no stranger to managing big tech projects. Among other work, he played key roles in both Qualcomm's Mirasol display efforts and ST-Ericsson's connectivity business. That kind of know-how could be crucial given Google's expansion plans, especially if rumors of mobile phone service pan out. It's too soon to gauge Kish's influence, but a high-profile hire like this suggests that Fiber's super-fast data service is only going to get bigger -- and that your local telecom giant may well get some genuine competition. [Image credit: Neerav Bhatt, Flickr]
Cincinnati residents will have access to gigabit internet
Gigabit internet is still pretty hard to come by -- Google's Fiber widening rollout is ironically slow, and mainstream providers just don't offer it universally. Folks in southeast Ohio, at least, can rest easy: their own Cincinnati Bell is now offering fiber optic services to consumers. The company has been testing the high-speed lines with businesses since early summer, but says it's finally ready to offer it to a wider market as part of its "Light Up Cincinnati" program starting September 8th. If you're not a local, at least you'll be able to take advantage of the upgrade when you visit: the company is setting up free WiFi hotpsots throughout the city, too. [Image credit: Jodi Jacobson]
Google backs an undersea cable that will give the internet a big speed boost
The internet is quickest when you have a direct connection to the sites you're trying to reach, but that's a daunting challenge in the Pacific -- undersea network cables can cost hundreds of millions of dollars. It's therefore good to hear that Google and a host of telecom giants (China Mobile, China Telecom, Global Transit, KDDI and SingTel) are backing FASTER, a $300 million fiber optic cable that runs between Japan and the US. As the name implies, it's all about speeding up data transfers between Asia and the Americas; the cable should offer a whopping 60 terabits per second of bandwidth between the two regions, which makes even Google's gigabit home internet service look puny by comparison. You won't see the difference until FASTER is finished in the second quarter of 2016, but it promises to improve the internet as a whole when it's ready. Don't be surprised if foreign multiplayer games and video streams get noticeably smoother within a couple of years. [Image credit: US Pacific Fleet, Flickr]
Google Fiber hardware is being streamlined: fewer boxes, same functionality
Remember that new Google Fiber box we spotted in the FCC last month? It's almost here. According to Kansas City residents in Google's beta program, a new router is on the way that combines the service's existing network and storage boxes into a single unit. The unit is also reported to be ushering in a Google Fiber Android app. There aren't too many other details (though forum users did confirm the WiFi upgrade we saw in the FCC) but Dave Zatz did find a new image lurking on Google's servers, pictured above.
Researchers get record broadband speeds out of old-school copper wire
While telecoms companies around the world are investing millions into the development of fiber-optic networks, the standard copper telephone line may still have some life in it yet. Experts at Alcatel Lucent's Bell Labs research division are claiming a new world record by achieving super-fast speeds through the aging technology. Researchers were able to achieve 10Gbps speeds with the same cables you'd find under many residential streets.
FCC report checks if your internet speed lives up to the ads, and why that's not fast enough
Since 2011 the FCC has collected data on the wired (there's a separate report for wireless) broadband speeds US residents are actually receiving to release in its Measuring Broadband America report, and now the most recent one is here. First, the good news -- based on its data (collected from "Whitebox" devices sent to around 10,000 participants that performed automated tests during September 2013), most ISPs were meeting or exceeding their advertised speeds even during peak hours. Four that couldn't deliver 90 percent or more of their advertised rate during peak hours included Verizon, Frontier, Qwest and Windstream -- all of which can expect a letter from the FCC asking why not, for whatever good that will do. So if ISPs are delivering 101 percent of advertised speeds, why are users still seeing buffering notifications and experiencing slowdowns? [Image credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images]
AT&T hopes to fight Google Fiber with gigabit internet in more cities
AT&T isn't letting Google Fiber's expansion plans go unanswered. The telecom giant has announced that it's looking at bringing its GigaPower internet service to as many as 21 additional big cities and their nearby municipalities. There's some potential for direct competition with Google, as both companies are looking into gigabit access for key urban areas like Atlanta, San Antonio and San Jose. However, it's clear that AT&T is taking some initiative here -- it's also exploring rollouts in Chicago, Los Angeles and other hubs that aren't currently on its rival's roadmap.
San Antonio clears Google Fiber's legal hurdles ahead of a possible deal
San Antonio really wants Google Fiber. Really badly. So badly, in fact, that its City Council has approved leases for Google's networking nodes despite the absence of official rollout plans. The Texas town hopes that removing this legal obstacle in advance will make it a prime candidate for Fiber's next big launch. Google still has some evaluation to do before it can even consider a San Antonio deployment, so locals shouldn't dream of what they'll do with gigabit internet access just yet. However, it's not hard to see why the city is so optimistic -- even the hint of a Fiber launch tends to spur competition and improve speeds for everyone. [Image credit: Nan Palmero, Flickr]
Bright House set to match Google's Fiber speeds in Tampa community
Despite some recent PR setbacks, Google has become the people's champion in cities with its gigabit fiber network -- thanks in part to the low reputation (and speeds) of regular providers. However, one cable outfit, Bright House Networks, is at least seeing the commercial value in such installations. It's joining forces with a real estate company to build a gigabit fiber-to-the-home network for a 6,000-unit development in Tampa, Florida. The first houses will be occupied this summer, with completion slated for 2017. Bright House said the move is not a response to Google's recent announcement that it'll expand Fiber to 34 more cities, but meant rather as a "differentiator" for the community. With its average internet speed around a fortieth of that figure, we imagine the rest of the company's 2.4 million subscribers will keenly notice the difference.
Virgin Media pushes its fiber broadband top speed to 152Mbps
If, like Aaron Paul, you've got a Need for Speed, then Virgin Media's latest news is probably up your alley. The company has announced that it's pushing its top fiber broadband speed up from a 120Mbps all the way up to 152Mbps over the next 12 months. At the same time, Virgin has also announced that it'll be reducing the amount of traffic management during peak times. That way, you'll be able to enjoy the benefits of that supercharged connection, even when everyone else is on their PS4 or bingeing on Netflix.
Google Fiber explores bringing gigabit internet to 34 new cities
Google has only made plans to roll out gigabit internet access in three US cities so far, but it's not content with stopping there. The company is now exploring the feasibility of deploying Google Fiber in 34 cities located around the major urban hubs of Atlanta, Charlotte, Nashville, Phoenix, Portland (Oregon), Raleigh-Durham, Salt Lake City, San Antonio and San Jose. In each case, Google will work with local officials to both map out its potential network and create a checklist of requirements. The search giant would like to bring Fiber to every one of the cities if possible. Be careful not to get your hopes up, though -- Google warns that it might not be practical to offer service in every territory. Even so, the potential for expansion should prove comforting to Americans worried that they're running out of choices for broadband providers.
Google offers Fiber to more Provo residents, to expand coverage area throughout 2014 (update)
Provo residents who took advantage of Google Fiber's early registration can no longer claim to be the chosen few. The company has started accepting sign-ups from more folks, so long as they live in select areas along the former iProvo network. Registration is only open in three areas for now, but Google plans to offer the service to a widening pool of eligible residents throughout the year. Not sure if you qualify? Check out Google Fiber's website to see if registration's already open in your area or to submit an application if it is. Unfortunate souls living outside of the planned coverage area, however, will have to settle for a consolation prize: Google is giving away mugs to locals who sign up for the Provo mailing list. Update (01/24/14): A Google rep reached out and told us that registration's already open in all the areas near the former iProvo line, where Fiber will land throughout the year. Make sure to visit Google Fiber's website to sign up and to see when you'll be able start using the high-speed internet connection.
BT's breakneck broadband test hits unimaginable speeds over plain ol' fiber
BT still has a long way to go until it connects all of Britain's homes to its fiber-optic network, but that hasn't stopped the company from exploring new ways to squeeze some extra speed out of it while it does. With a little help from friends at Alcatel-Lucent, BT boffins have created what they believe is the fastest-ever "real-world" internet connection, clocking speeds of 1.4 terabits per second using readily available hardware. If you're wondering how fast that is, the telecom giant says the network can transmit 44 uncompressed HD movies in a single second. While the project currently exists purely as a speed test, BT and Alcatel-Lucent are already talking up the possibilities of improving existing services like Infinity without having to dig up roads, potentially delivering broadband that can handle an influx of Ultra HD content on Netflix with less chance of suffering connection issues.
Seattle kills Gigabit Squared's fiber internet rollout before it even starts
We knew that Gigabit Squared's fiber-to-the-home rollout was facing money troubles, but it's now clear that those problems were just too much to bear. Seattle's newly elected Mayor Ed Murray tells the Puget Sound Business Journal that his city's agreement to launch public internet through Gigabit has fallen apart before it could even take on its first customers. The official isn't ruling out a future deal, but he doesn't have any alternative providers lined up. Meanwhile, hope springs eternal at Gigabit Squared -- the company "look[s] forward" to speaking with Murray about future plans. Before it does, it may want to look into paying its bills.
AT&T's 300 Mbps internet launches in Austin, starting at $70 with targeted ads
Right on time, AT&T has launched its 300 Mbps GigaPower internet service in Austin. The fast U-Verse tier is available now to residents in "eligible" neighborhoods, while others can vote fiberhood-style for a deployment in their area. A free upgrade to 1 Gbps is still due sometime in 2014. Just don't expect a traditional approach to pricing. To get GigaPower service at a Google Fiber-rivaling $70 per month, you'll have to let AT&T target its web ads based on your browsing and search histories; Austinites uncomfortable with such tracking will have to shell out $99 per month for otherwise identical speeds. We imagine that some won't like the ad-subsidized business model, but it may be a small price to pay for locals who aren't willing to wait for Google's take on high-speed fiber.
