Launching in Huntsville, Alabama, Google Takes Different Approach to Fiber

BROADBAND BREAKFAST INSIGHT: The Huntsville combination of open access and leased fiber is a model to watch! ||

Google Fiber launches in Huntsville, Alabama by leasing new municipal fiber network, from 9to5 Google:

First announced over a year ago, Google Fiber is now live in Huntsville, Alabama. Alphabet’s internet connectivity division was able to launch its service relatively quickly by taking advantage of the city’s new fiber network.

In 2014, the city of Huntsville set out to build a municipal fiber network. Built by Huntsville Utilities, Google Fiber is the city’s first tenant and will lease part of the network with a non-exclusive arrangement allowing other providers to also rent fiber from the city.

This approach is cheaper and less time consuming than having to plan and lay down fiber cables into the ground. However, in its blog post, Google gives a nod to its current efforts to build out a network in Kansas City, Austin, and Nashville.

[more…]

Source: Google Fiber launches in Huntsville, Alabama by leasing new municipal fiber network | 9to5Google