Google high-speed internet coming to Triangle
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory and city mayors appeared with executives from Google Tuesday afternoon to announce that Google is bringing its ultrafast internet and TV service to Carrboro, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Garner, Morrisville, and Raleigh.
Google Fiber claims its internet service is up to 100 times faster than basic broadband service. Raleigh officials said the current average broadband speed is 11.5 megabits per second. In contrast, Google Fiber will bring access to "gigabit" internet connections up to 1,000 megabits per second.
Not only does that mean faster streaming of video services like Netflix, but it would also be a huge economic advantage for the Triangle in terms of attracting even more high-tech businesses to the area.
"It will benefit not only today's residents but also generations to come," said Raleigh Mayor Nancy McFarlane.
"Given that a recent national survey ranked Cary as the second-most wired community in the country, it's only fitting that Google chose Cary to be a partner in its next deployment of community fiber," said Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht.
Google executives cautioned that residents will need to be patient as the designs are drawn up and contractors lay the hundreds of miles of fiber cable needed to build the network.
If other cities are the norm, the high-speed internet will not be cheap. Google is charging customers in cities like Austin and Kansas City $70 a month for access with a minimum one-year commitment.
When bundled with Google's TV service, the prices range from $120-$130 a month.
"The next chapter of the internet will be written at gigabit speeds. These new networks will lay the foundation for a wave of innovation and economic growth. Raleigh is the perfect city to show us what's possible, and we can't wait to see what Raleigh will do with Fiber," offered Kevin Lo, Director of Business Operations for Google Fiber.
"Google Fiber will help the Triangle become the innovation capital of America," said an enthusiastic Governor McCrory.
"Improving broadband capabilities across North Carolina continues to be a priority for our administration," said Governor McCrory. "Google Fiber will not only increase access, but increase speed and reliability in the Triangle and Charlotte metropolitan areas."
Garner said it expects to reap significant economic advantages from the network.
"Garner is already home to a number of tech and other 'creative class'-type businesses. Google Fiber will generate much more buzz about Garner among the creative classes-especially given our proximity to downtown Raleigh," Mayor Ronnie Williams said.
