Google: Maybe European Fiber Too?

The other news over the weekend came from Google’s David Drummond, who suggested that the internet giant is ‘looking very closely’ at another fiber project, this time in Europe.  Such a buildout would parallel their ongoing FTTH project in Kansas City, Kansas, which is of course still at an early stage.

As for why they might take on such another such project, perhaps it is because despite all the hoopla leading up to it, the KC project hasn’t really accomplished what Google set out to do.  That of couse was not to become a telecom operator, but rather to generate public support and interest in big bandwidth while demonstrating that the economics are feasible, and thus get telecommunications operators to jump on the bandwagon.

While there are exceptions, both in the US and Europe it must be said that FTTH activity has not really gone anywhere fast in the last few years.  Network operators have shied away from that sort of last mile investment thus far.  Google’s PR blitz basically ended with the choice of Kansas City, and now perhaps they need a new one. But like Survivor, they need a new venue or the idea gets stale quickly… so Europe here we come!

I really wonder though if European cities will go Google-fiber-crazy like some in the USA did. But perhaps the gimmick will be different this time?

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Categories: FTTH