Or Will Broadband Competition Look Like.... Google?
from the and-then-there's-that dept
Just as we were getting ready to push out Derek's post about broadband competition, it looks like Google tossed a bit of a grenade into the mix, announcing plans to at least start trials of super high speed fiber-to-the-home networks in some areas. Of course, there have been rumors for years that Google might get into the internet access business. It had invested in a failed broadband-over-powerlines operation, and there had always been talk of a Google wireless solution -- but none of those seemed particularly serious (even Google's muni-WiFi experiment in its hometown of Mountain View has been somewhat half-hearted). So, it might be a bit early to look to Google to really dive in as a serious broadband competitor, but it certainly does raise some interesting questions.From the very beginning we've been arguing that the real issue isn't about net neutrality, but about competition -- a point Derek reiterated -- and anything that drives more competition in the broadband space is a good thing. And, since Google monetizes internet access in many other areas, it doesn't need to be greedy about how it grants access to the pipes. But, even more interesting is that Google seems to realize that if you have a fiber to the home network at the infrastructure-level, the really interesting play is actually letting multiple service providers compete above that:
We will allow third-parties to offer their own Internet access services, or other services, using our network. We believe this approach will maximize user choice as well as spur greater innovation and competition. Most providers in Europe and many places elsewhere in the world operate open access networks. It will be open to any service provider, including incumbents and new entrants. "Open" means open.By no means is it guaranteed that Google will be able to succeed in this market. In fact, I'd probably bet against it if you were laying odds. It's just a really tough business to be in, especially as a brand new entrant, and I'm not convinced that Google will focus enough on this to make it a success. But I hope I'm wrong. More serious entrants into the market would be a good thing, and Google's view on line-sharing is exactly right: it does tend to encourage greater innovation. So hopefully this is something that works in trials and gets expanded more widely.
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Filed Under: broadband, competition, fiber
Companies: google
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you will be assimilated.
resistance is futile.
Now go eat your google burger and drink your google cola and be quiet.
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Re: Borg?
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Re:
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Re:
btw, you are aware - of course - that you are not being forced into use of their products
errr, maybe not ...
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Welcome to Washington
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It's just a really tough business to be in,
go anywhere and see what people want n USA and canada
and this is it
NOT CAPS
NOT THROTTLING
NOT UUB
end of story google knows these other price gougers have a yacht building program they are addicted too and wont stop and will use all there power to prevent it.
TO bad cause it will be a HUGE HIT all across north america
people with integrity google has hired oh i dunno Jeremy allison th eguy that turned down a 50 million USD bribe for control of his work on SAMBA....
yea more like rogers, tellus, bell, shaw, comcast , verizon , at&t are the borg
and resistance isn't futile as star trek voyager showed the borg in future are defeated. ONCE again anti mikes stupidity and lack of true research EPICALLY FAILS
should rename him self
DIP SHIT
OR TOTAL TARD
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Re: It's just a really tough business to be in,
Actually, Rogers, Bell, and Shaw are pretty much the borg of Canada. They have to many fingers in too many pies, and control everything from the distribution to the source material, and every step in between.
Google is trying to go it to an even greater extent. They want to be the internet provider in all senses, from search to entertainment to operating systems to connectivity both wired and wireless. They want to be the borg, because they want to be part of everything you do all the time.
You will be assimilated. You will become one with google, and share their hive mind.
Google won't stop until the US government tells them to stop. They have the money and the market cap to spend a whole to lot to dominate any market they choose. It looks like broadband is next.
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Re: Re: It's just a really tough business to be in,
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new entrant
The search results for "google invests in dark fiber" provide plenty of info on that.
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Re: new entrant
Yeah, I've even written about their dark fiber investments. But last mile is expensive. Customer service is expensive. It's those things I'm not sure about.
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Re: Re: new entrant
I figured CS is just as important as investing in IT/technology, and just as misunderstood.
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Googles roadblock
The reason for the lack of cable and telephone competition has nothing to do with the competition. It has to do with the fact that politicians and the cities have a vested interest in keeping it to a minimum. They receive money from these companies for the privilege of allowing them in, and the companies expect to have exclusive access to those cities.
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Re: Googles roadblock
The local governments need to understand that they have nothing to lose by removing the monopolies.
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Re: Re: Googles roadblock
Not really, right now the companies pay BIG $$$ to be in cities, they won't be willing to pay as much if they aren't exclusive. So the City would be lose money evein if more people did subscribe
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Re: Re: Re: Googles roadblock
i disagree. more competition means more subscriptions, that means more users, more applications, more build outs, and more equipment sold. that translates to more businesses (start ups, small businesses, and more support businesses) which means more jobs and more tax revenues, both from businesses and employees of those businesses.
creating jobs grows tax revenues and the overall economy because people with jobs by goods and services.
give a politician a way to create good jobs, and he will see more campaign contributions from ordinary taxpayers than any corporation could contribute.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Googles roadblock
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bitchslapping politicians that scrw us
OR before being elected it be a requirement they each get a pie in face
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They don't have
GMail did the same thing when it came out and offered 10 times the storage of any other free email on the market.
Google has a vested interested in keeping the Internet open and high speed. Faster connection makes Google services more acceptable as replacements for desktop apps. Openness keeps the 'ecosystem'/Internet vibrant and prevents stagnation.
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Jump on the bandwagon.
Google seems to be doing very much the same, but how can you stay angry with a company whose very slogan suggests they aren't the evil ones.
The thing is that the telcos here had laid down fiber-optic infrastructure years ago, and I know for a fact that it's sitting under my front lawn. All they really need to do is flip a switch and we're all running hundreds of times faster than we currently are. Seems Google just went and took the initiative to flip the switch.
Let's face it though... compared to other parts of the world, North America is WAY behind in both the cost and the speed of Internet. Maybe not so bad as our friends in the UK, but compared to Japan, China, Korea, etc... we're decades behind. Finally something like this will put us over the top, and I for one am jumping on the bandwagon if I have the chance.
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Has anyone figured out googles .....
The US currently is spending an obscene amount of money to determine broadband penetration here in the US. The telcos and cable companies have hi jacked this effort. What one company on the planet has the information to provide a broadband penetration map to the US government right now and change the future?
Google.
They know who you are they know where you live and they know who your ISP is based on IP address or a Trace Route.
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Re: Has anyone figured out googles .....
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Re: Re: Has anyone figured out googles .....
you will be assimilated.
we know who you are.
we know how you connect.
you will now connect with us.
resistance is futile
(note: every time I hear resistance is futile, I don't tend to think of the borg first, I tend to think of Vogons yelling "resistance is useless!", I can't help but think that the STTNG writers were fans too).
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Re: Re: Re: Has anyone figured out googles .....
Is that you?
...Monkey Dance...
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let me the first to welcome our google overlords
i'd rather be a monkey than a racist- darwin
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Google wants to conquer the world
But what would we do without it???
Arya Schellemberg
MarCom Manager
Sortfix
http://www.sortfix.com
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They Won't Be Allowed To Even Try
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