Google Thinks Fast

11 Feb 2010 by Graham Lyons - News broadband, google No Comments

Internet access speeds always seem to be a bone of contention. From people not being able to get the latest and greatest services due to their geographical location, to others seemingly not getting the fast download speeds quoted in the literature.

Google logo (Image Courtesy of Google)

Well, as usual, Google has been putting its sizeable thinking cap on. They are planning to test some super-fast broadband networks at a small number of locations in the US. When we say super-fast, that’s around 1 gigabit/s! What’s more Google plans to offer this to around 50,000 people (potentially 500,000).

The thinking behind the project seems to be considering future uses and the access that people get to these new systems. A number of key points are mentioned:

Next generation apps: With very high data-rates the possibility for applications running across that network are mind boggling. Huge quantities of data, be that high-definition video or even large datasets for research use, would be able to simply be moved around.

New deployment techniques: New ways to actually construct these fiber networks – with the lessons learned with the world.

Openness and choice: Google plans an “open access” network, with users given the choice over service providers.

This spirit of learning through experimentation seems like a great idea, especially when a company the size of Google can afford to go on these type of fact-finding projects. Indeed it apes the WiFi network that Google setup in their hometown of Mountain View.

There is also a video explaining the key points: