What we like about competition: GigaPower & Google Fiber

[pc747]

Android v Apple, Ford v Chevy, PC v Mac, the great thing about competition in a free market environment is the strong always survive while the weak is left to die. Though it may sound cruel it actually makes for a better product/service experience for the customer at a better price. One of the good things about continuing innovation is that it forces the competition to step up their game or risk being swallowed up or dead and we are seeing that with companies like Blackberry, Radio Shack, and other companies that were the hottest name at one time and are now a distant memory. Two weeks ago we discussed Google Fiber and its continuing expansion and now it has caused other companies like AT&T to increase their speeds (adopting giga fiber) while matching the price of what Google is offering in Kansas City. This is good for customers across the nation with AT&T U-Verse, especially in cities that Google have expanded coverage, because it forces the competition to provide what customers want which is more at a reasonable price. Though I expect the roll out to be slow and steady it is a step in the right direction. Here is hoping we continue seeing Google Fiber change the landscape for customers across the nation.

Source: AT T launching GigaPower in Kansas City exactly matching Google Fiber speed and price 9to5Google

 

[dgstorm]

Things are looking up! The digital future is so bright I gotta wear shades!

 

[johnomaz]

I don't think it means anything good for whose who have ATT Uverse outside of places that have Google Fiber. We'll never see it unless Google Fiber comes to town. I'm sure ATT will say their network in the area can't handle it and they had to do special stuff to make it happen in the couple places where its already at. If ATT Uverse put 1gbps up where it has service, I'd switch today. I wouldn't complain either if I only got 500Mb up/down either. But they will stick with their crap service unless a real competitor comes around.

If I'm wrong, please show me an article from a reputable source that says ATT will roll out 1gbps service to areas that don't have much competition for speed or even any other ISPs.

 

[Jeffrey]

It's not a easy as flipping a switch. Fibre cables need to be run and relay station will need hardware upgrades. It's a costly and time consuming process. The strategy should be, install it where there is no competition. Get all the revenue available.

 

[Meto]

Google Fiber stopped 500 feet from my house here in Kansas City and there are 70 homes in my subdivision that committed to Google, but they will not extend 500 more feet... Hoping AT&T will

 

[Jeffrey]

Google Fiber stopped 500 feet from my house here in Kansas City and there are 70 homes in my subdivision that committed to Google, but they will not extend 500 more feet... Hoping AT&T will

That's a bummer... Did they happen to say why?

 

[FoxKat]

Google Fiber stopped 500 feet from my house here in Kansas City and there are 70 homes in my subdivision that committed to Google, but they will not extend 500 more feet... Hoping AT&T will

Geez, 500'. Less than 1/10 mile. That's nothing. Get the neighbors to sign a petition. If you have them a signed list of desiring participants they might reconsider.

Sent from my Droid Turbo on Tapatalk.

 

[cr6]

That is a bummer Meto! 500ft doesn't seem all that far, but in reality its quite a distance to run that much cable to a subdivision that may or may not utilize it. As Jeffrey mentioned, between the cable, relay station, hardware, permits to dig and lay said cable on whoever's property they need to utilize to get it there, could potentially cost a pretty penny. Then, as I mentioned earlier, not having a solid commitment from the residents of this subdivision, it could very well cost much more than it's worth.
(I know....it doesn't make it any less painful to have it SO close)

S5 tap'n

 

[cr6]

Geez, 500'. Less than 1/10 mile. That's nothing. Get the neighbors to sign a petition. If you have them a signed list of desiring participants they might reconsider.

Sent from my Droid Turbo on Tapatalk.

Great idea FoxKat!

S5 tap'n

 

[Jeffrey]

Geez, 500'. Less than 1/10 mile. That's nothing. Get the neighbors to sign a petition. If you have them a signed list of desiring participants they might reconsider.

Sent from my Droid Turbo on Tapatalk.

I'm not sure it's a matter of 500" from where they provide service. I think it's dependent on how far they are to the closest relay station.