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C Spire kicks off pre-registration for its Mississippi gigabit fiber service
C Spire, the regional wireless carrier with gigabit-sized dreams, has just announced that residents in nine Mississippi cities can now pre-register for its home fiber program. The southern US-based company recently revealed its plans to join Google, AT&T and others by taking a similar tack to Mountain View: making municipalities convince them they needed it. Candidates will need to put down a $10 deposit for the service, which C Spire says will run $80 for internet only and up to $160 for internet, home phone and cable TV services. During the ramp up, denizens of the candidate "fiberhoods" will be able to view progress maps, which will turn green when pre-registration rates hit 35-45 percent. Once a critical number of the 80 neighborhoods are on board, construction will begin. If you're in one of the finalist cities you can check your eligibility and sign up if you feel the need for speed -- otherwise, count on some neighborly peer-pressure.
Google's Project Link fiber backbones increase internet speed in Uganda (video)
Google is creating a fiber optic network to bring faster connectivity to one of Earth's biggest, yet somehow most internet-disconnected, continents: Africa. With Project Link, the search giant is offering Uganda's capital city a reprieve from dial-up speeds and shoddy uplinks by offering local internet providers and mobile carriers access to its broadband network, which they can in turn offer to their respective customers. According to Mountain View, only 16 percent of the continent's some billion residents are online; hopefully this initiative is the start of bumping that number significantly. Still, the implementation is in the hands of Kampala's data providers -- we're crossing our fingers that they don't muck up Google's graciousness with greed and high prices. As it stands though, this seems like a much more, ahem, grounded method for bringing the internet to remote areas than balloons ever did.
Google widens Fiber rollout in Kansas City, shows how signups will work in Austin
Did you move to the Kansas City area too late to register for Google Fiber? Don't fret -- Google has both reopened sign-ups in the region's 180 current fiber neighborhoods and detailed an upcoming expansion. Those in existing Fiber areas can sign up for service by December 22nd, with installations due by the spring. Meanwhile, those in outlying locations such as Gladstone, Grandview, Kansas City North, South Kansas City and Raytown will get a chance to sign up in March. The search giant has also provided a brief explanation of how Austin residents will sign up for Fiber service when it's available in their town. As in Kansas City, Austinites will be organized into fiberhoods that have to meet registration goals within a few weeks to qualify for a deployment. There's still no word on just when the process will begin, although the mid-2014 service target doesn't leave much time for Google to get the ball rolling.
Google Fiber app gains new DVR features, now on iPhone and iPod Touch
For the lucky few who've signed on to Google's Fiber TV service, you're about to get a few more goodies coming your way. Today, the Mountain View company not only upgraded Fiber's Android and iOS app with DVR management features, it's opened up the latter to the iPhone and iPod Touch as well (Fiber's iOS app was previously only for iPads). A few of the new app functionalities include a shortcut to access your show history plus the ability to search, sort and mass-delete your recordings without having to fire up your remote. Like a lot of other DVR apps, you can also now watch your shows right from your phone or tablet. This update along with new streaming partnerships and content deals certainly makes us wish Fiber was more widespread. Or, perhaps, we should consider moving instead.
Google Fiber sign-ups begin in Provo, but only for a lucky few
Provo citizens who've been craving Google Fiber can finally sign up for service -- some of them, anyway. Google is now accepting early registrations from Veracity Networks' residential customers, whose internet access is already linked to the former iProvo network that Fiber will use. Qualifying locals who register by October 31st will get Google's internet and IPTV services before anyone else, with pricing unchanged from what Google offers in Kansas City. Be prepared to wait if you're not one of the fortunate few, though, as Google won't start general sign-ups until January.
AT&T brings 300Mbps fiber internet to Austin in December, gigabit by 'mid-2014'
Now that AT&T is actually laying down fiber-optic line in Austin, we have yet another reason to be jealous of Texas' weird city. According to Ma Bell, "tens of thousands" will be getting 300Mbps downloads (and uploads), the "fastest internet speeds available" in town to the general public, come December. Those subscribers can snag a free upgrade to gigabit service -- GigaPower, as the company calls it -- when it's available in the middle of next year. Oh, and if you want a say in where the ultra-fast service travels, make your neighborhood proud by voting at AT&T's website. For some reason though, we don't imagine Google will be casting any ballots. [Original image credit: Adriano Aurielo Araujo / Flickr]
C Spire prepping gigabit 'Fiber to the Home' service, asks where to put it
Gigabit internet access is all the rage these days, and C Spire is entirely willing to give in to peer pressure. It just announced an upcoming C Spire Fiber to the Home service that will supply 1Gbps internet access and IPTV to Mississippi residents sometime in 2014. Exactly where it arrives will depend on feedback, however. Much like Google, C Spire wants both municipal governments and residents to plead their case; the more vocal regions will get service first. Only local leaders can solicit C Spire at this stage, but everyone else will get their chance starting on September 30th.
Google Fiber's $10 Sports Plus pack gives NFL Redzone some company
When Google Fiber first offered the NFL RedZone channel last season it was $10 per month by itself, but this year it has a different deal. The new "Sports Plus" pack will vary slightly in different areas, but in Kansas City it delivers RedZone plus 11 other channels (including GolTV, MLB Network Strike Zone, Pac-12 Networks, Longhorn Channel and more.) Some of the channels were previously included in the standard channel lineup, but now they're being offloaded into this segment. Current subscribers will need to call in to add the bundle, while new signups can pick it out on the website. So far it doesn't appear Google is shifting things to the a la carte model, but if you're just looking to see more sportsball the add-on may be necessary.
Google bringing faster WiFi to 7,000 US Starbucks stores
Google and Starbucks are teaming up to boost WiFi speeds at all 7,000 Starbucks stores in the US. The move, which should be complete within 18 months, is a major loss for AT&T, the chain's contracted ISP to date. Google claims that you'll experience WiFi speeds up to 10x faster than what's currently available, with a 100x boost in Google Fiber cities like Austin, Provo and KC. The rollout will begin in August -- if you see "Google Starbucks" as an available SSID, you'll know your store has been tapped with boosted access.
Verizon FiOS rolls out 500/100 Mbps broadband, its highest speed tier yet
The broadband speed wars continue to rage, and today, Verizon announced that it's throwing down with its fastest tier yet. With a download speed of 500 megabits per second (and an upload speed of 100Mbps), the leap forward marks the latest evolution of the company's fiber-optic Quantum Internet Service, which rolled out last summer. To put those numbers into perspective, you'll be able to download a 5GB HD movie in 1.4 minutes or upload a 100MB file in eight seconds, assuming you're operating at full speed. Verizon is hoping to gradually introduce its newest speed tier to all FiOS markets by 2014, with limited availability starting today. To hear what Big Red has to say about it, check out the video after the break.
Rural Canadian town developing nation's first 1Gbps internet service
All you cool city cats on DSL, eat your heart out -- a 1Gbps fiber internet service will soon be speeding up the lives of 8,500 residents in Olds, a rural community in Alberta, Canada. Around 60% of the populace can sign up for the $170 / month plan at the moment, but a new pricing scheme will bring it down to $57. That's cheaper than Google Fiber, folks, which is made possible by the fact that the town itself owns the service. In fact, it's the Olds Institute for Community and Regional Development (a non-profit) that took the bull by the horns, securing a $2.5 million grant from the Alberta government and a $6 million loan from the town itself to fund the fiber network construction. It's thanks to the town's authorities that the residents can soon rid themselves of crappy internet, while the rest of us can only look on in envy. [Image credit: Barta IV / Flickr]
BT Infinity customers to get 320Mbps top speed, 802.11ac HomeHub 5 by end of the year
The BT HomeHub 4 router has barely had time to settle in, and yet already a prototype of its replacement is being callously shown off at PR events in London. It'll support the still-maturing 802.11ac standard, should you come to own any compatible devices, and is to become the default router shipped to new Infinity fiber customers -- we're just not sure exactly when, as BT execs have only indicated that it'll be towards the end of the year. Equally exciting (and equally imprecise) is a second promise that the current 160Mbps max speed on the top-end Infinity plan will be increased to 320Mbps, at a cost of £50 per month. Though the new service tier and Home Hub may be slow in coming, they'll at least be fast once they get here.
EE details shared and PAYG data plans, NFC payment service, new router
There was only one form of bacon present at EE's breakfast event today, but plenty more to chew on, as the UK 4G provider shed light on its new shared plans and PAYG data-only offerings. The sharing scheme, launching on July 17th, will put up to five devices on one bill and allow them to feed from the same data allowance. Starting with any regular contract, you can add other phones or devices at any time. Snagging another phone SIM for one year costs £12 per month, or £17 if you only need it for 30 days -- you can also get handsets to go with those SIMs for additional dinero. Every phone plan you tack on includes unlimited calls and texts, but if you only need a SIM for data, it'll cost £5 each month on a two-year contract, £8 for a 30-day commitment, and more if you want a USB dongle, MiFi hotspot or tablet on top. EE had plenty more to tell us, so head below the fold if you're up for the full rundown.
Gigabit Squared outlines Seattle fiber prices: 1Gbps for $80 per month
Ultra-high-speed fiber-to-the-home from Gigabit Squared isn't scheduled to light up Seattle until 2014, but the outfit's just revealed what it aims to charge for its blisteringly-fast internet service. Folks who are content with the bare minimum can pay a $350 installation fee and net 5Mbps up and 1Mbps down at no charge for 60 months, and can then convert to $10 each month for 10Mbps both ways. With a one-year contract, residents of The Emerald City can avoid the setup charge and score 100Mbps down and 100Mbps up for a $45 monthly bill. If pure speed is your prime directive, 1Gbps up and down will be available for $80 per month, and with no cash put towards installation. Aching to hook up to the web at those eye-watering speeds? You'll have to live in Seattle's West Campus District, First Hill, Capitol Hill or Central Area neighborhoods, as they'll be the first connected to Gigabit Squared's pipes. There's no sign-up process just yet, but it's scheduled to go live next month. Update: We've corrected the story to reflect that the free plan can be converted to a $10 monthly plan after 60 months, which boosts speeds to 10Mbps up and down. [Image credit: Eli Duke, Flickr]
Bell Labs doubles beams in fiber optic lines to reach 400Gbps on a global scale
It's comparatively easy to run fiber optic lines at high speeds; it's another matter to sustain that pace between continents. Alcatel-Lucent's Bell Labs has found a way to go that extreme distance by relying on the basic concept behind noise-cancelling headphones. When the researchers send data across two light beams in opposing phases, they can superimpose the signals and neutralize the distortion that would normally occur at long ranges. Such clean output lets Bell Labs ramp up the signal strength and maintain high speeds across whole oceans: its test pushed 400Gbps through 7,954 miles of fiber. There's no word on how soon we'll see twin-light technique put into practice, although we suspect that a networking giant like Alcatel-Lucent wants the extra bandwidth as quickly as possible. [Image credit: JL Hopgood, Flickr]
Google welcomes Gladstone, MO to the Fiber family
It looks like the slow and steady fiber-fication of Missouri is well underway, as the Gladstone City Council has voted to bring Google's speedy broadband service to the city. This comes just a few days after the Mountain View company welcomed Grandview into the fold, and we're sure the Show Me state will soon see even wider Fiber adoption just like neighboring Kansas. Of course, Gladstone's induction is merely honorary at this point; there's still plenty of work to be done before its citizens can surf the fastest internet waves in the Midwest.
Vermont Telephone Company's gigabit internet service is live, half the price of Google Fiber
Remember how Google Fiber's recent announcement for planned service in Austin by 2014 spurred immediate competition from AT&T? It's safe to say telcos in other areas have taken note about the gigabit speeds, not to mention the $70 montly pricing. According to the Wall Street Journal, Vermont Telephone Company is now offering gigabit service to some of its customers for the crazy-low price of 35 bucks a month. To keep things in perspective, WSJ notes that roughly 600 folks are subscribed (out of VTel's total base of about 17.5K) and that the company is essentially going to be analyzing whether the current pricing will remain for the long-term. With Google Fiber to continuing to expand, it's certainly promising to see how superspeed internet is trickling across the US -- and how easy it's been looking on the wallet.
Ask Engadget: best WiFi router for super-fast Fiber?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Travis from Provo, who is a jammy individual, wants to replace his router. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "I'm currently living in Provo UT, and my wireless router just died. I want to replace it with something that's going to handle Google Fiber as that's on its way. What do you recommend?" Given the number of places that are now getting super-speed fiber, we're very interested in the results of this one. We ask a similar question each year, and in 2012 you were all voicing your support for Cisco/Linksys hardware, ASUS' RT-N66U and D-Link's DIR-655. The only question is what'll come out on top in 2013, so get commenting, friends.
Provo council approves fiber network sale to Google, but city must front $1.7 million
Provo, Utah's plan to sell its cost-plagued fiber network to Google has been approved by the municipal council, meaning it'll soon become the third Google Fiber city. However, while still not receiving any money upfront as earlier reported, it'll now have to advance $1.7 million in equipment and engineering costs not part of the deal before, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. In exchange, each Provo resident will get a free 5-megabit internet connection for seven years and Google will have to upgrade the network to connect all the city's homes. It's not quite free, however, as the city's 120,000 residents must still pay a $39 million bond for building the network -- meaning they'll shell out $3.3 million for each of the next 12 years.
Google paying $1 to run Provo fiber, must build it out within five years
While it's well-established that Google Fiber's expansion into Provo, Utah hinges on Google buying the city's existing iProvo network, we didn't immediately learn what it took to land the tentative deal. Newly available details of the agreement reveal that the up-front cost is largely in the visitor's favor -- it's the long-term development that rewards the locals. Google only pays $1 to buy the local fiber network, but it has five years to finish upgrades and deployments that could ultimately cost $30 million, according to the Deputy Mayor's estimates. About the only remaining costs for Provo are its already existing (if significant) development loans, and the city can always buy the network back for $1 if things go sour. The pact also leaves the door open to public WiFi, although there are no guarantees that Google will mirror its New York City efforts anytime soon. When the search giant has a very healthy bank balance, we doubt there will be much quibbling over the exact terms; just know that the arrangement isn't strictly one-sided.
