Internet and society: Google launched a gigabit network in the USA

In Kansas City, USA, Google has launched an experimental high-speed network for Internet access, according to Engadget. Its theoretical throughput is one gigabit per second.

During the tests, conducted by Google engineers, the download speed in the new network has reached 973 megabits per second, according to BGR. At the present, the network operates only in certain areas of the city, but Google plans to connect new territories to it. Residents of Kansas City will have an opportunity to submit their applications to be connected to the network to the project website, Google Fiber.

Access to the network will be paid. There are two tariff options - $120 and $70 per month. Universities, libraries and hospitals will be connected to the Google network for free.

Simultaneously with the high-speed network, Google launched Google Fiber TV. Its subscribers will enjoy approximately 500 hours of video at 1080p for viewing in streaming mode. Part of content for Fiber TV will be provided by Netflix.

Project Google Fiber, implying the creation of experimental gigabit network in one of the cities in the U.S., was announced in 2010. Cities, wishing to participate in the experiment, could fill the applications on a special website.

According to the report State of the Internet, in the last quarter of 2011, the average speed of Internet access in the United States was 5.8 megabits per second.