Google Fiber just scored another victory as rivals Time Warner Cable and AT&T failed to hinder its progress.
Time Warner Cable lately formed an alliance with AT&T to block plans that would pave the way to faster Google Fiber. More specifically, TWC and AT&T legal representatives tried to keep Google and other high-speed Internet providers from using city-owned utility poles in Louisville, Kentucky.
If Google Fiber reaches Louisville, it would be in direct competition with both Time Warner Cable and AT&T.
Time Warner Cable representatives made a plea to city officials, arguing that potential Google Fiber installation issues could disrupt service for its customers, causing outages.
"Time Warner Cable supports the city's goal to streamline access to infrastructure in order to expand broadband service, and we've advocated for this for several years," says TWC. "However, it's vital to ensure the protection of TWC customers, including major hospitals, universities and important facilities across Louisville, from outages resulting from a less-than-sound construction process."
AT&T, meanwhile, argued that if Google gained access to the city's utility poles, it would be in violation of union agreements.
Despite the latter two's efforts to keep Google Fiber off their turf, however, the strategy didn't pan out.
The matter required a vote, and the city council unanimously decided to grant Google access. This means that Google Fiber representatives have the green light to run fiber-optic cable around the city, delivering blazing fast gigabit Internet speeds.
Having a new Internet Service Provider (ISP) in the city would also create more jobs, and that's always good news for any city's economy. Google would need staff not only for the installation process, but also for ongoing maintenance after everything's in place.
On the other hand, it's important to point out that nothing is set in stone just yet. Google can expand to Louisville in the near future if it wants to, but the company may or may not decide to follow through.
If it does, however, Louisville residents will likely see some more positive changes this year. Should Google reach the area in the following months, TWC and AT&T will likely step up their game as well. This should translate into higher speeds at little or no additional costs.
Fierce competition leads to better offers, and precedents have already been set. Both TWC and AT&T, for instance, increased their speeds in Charlotte, North Carolina, after Google announced plans to expand in the area.
Google Fiber is shaping up as a heavyweight — and it's already making waves.
"At Google Fiber, we often talk about how superfast speeds and access to home broadband can move entire communities forward," Google said earlier this month, when it rolled out free 1 Gbps fiber service to housing projects. "For low income families, access to the Internet can mean the difference between thriving or falling behind."
The company also started testing Google Fiber Phone at the end of January, integrating Google Voice features. Based on consumer responses so far, the hype is growing and Google Fiber will likely be greatly successful. Things are looking up, heralding a brighter, faster and more connected broadband future.
