Google fiber wifi may be available for free in its network cities and towns. The search engine giant is now mulling over offering high speed Internet Wi-Fi networks through its high-speed Internet service.
Thirty four cities are slated to receive Google Fiber next year and Google disclosed its intentions about subsidized Google Fiber Wifi in order to proceed with its plans.
IDG News Service reported that specific details of the Google Fiber Wi-Fi plan are not included in the document handed over to cities. However, Google says it will be "discussing our Wi-Fi plans and related requirements with your city as we move forward with your city during this planning process."
Should the Google Fiber Wifi plan go through, the Mountainview, California firm would be engaging in stiff competition with local telecom carriers. But it would also mean that a monopoly on Internet services by a single Internet firm would be out of the question. The increase in competition is likely to bring prices down for Internet on telecom carriers.
Google was not available to answer questions about the Google Fiber Wifi plan, by wrote in an emailed statement, "We'd love to be able to bring Wi-Fi access to all of our Fiber cities, but we don't have any specific plans to announce right now."
Currently, Google Fiber Wifi is available in Provo, Utah, and Kansas City, and is on its way to Austin, Texas. Google offers a "basic speed" service free of charge, a 1 GB/sec service for $70/month and a $120 package with a bundle of 200 TV channels. Installation costs may vary from nothing to $300.
Google is in the process of gathering data from the selected 34 cities in queue for receiving Google Fiber. At the same time, Google is requesting cities to come up with locations to place 'utility huts', for 24-hour access; Google is prepared to lease this window less hut on land for 20 years.
"This process will take some time, but we hope to have updates on which cities will get Fiber by the end of the year," Google said in its Wifi plan document.