Last year Google announced plans to build and test ultra high-speed broadband networks in a small number of trial locations across the U.S. that will deliver Internet speeds of one gigabit per second (1 Gbps) via a fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) service. After receiving submissions from nearly 1,100 cities, the Internet giant has now revealed it will build its first ultra high-speed network in Kansas City, Kansas.
In evaluating the submissions Google considered factors such as where it could efficiently build the network, where it would have an impact on the community and where it could develop relationships with local government and community organizations. Kansas City ticked all the boxes and Google has now signed a development agreement with the city and says it will be working with local organizations, businesses and universities to bring the benefits of the ultra high-speed network to the community.
Google says it will also be working with local organizations, such as the Kauffman Foundation, KCNext and the University of Kansas Medical Center, to help develop applications that take advantage of the network's gigabit speeds.
Google plans to start offering the ultra high-speed service from 2012 – pending approval from Kansas City's Board of Commissioners. And in response to the cities that were disappointed to have missed out on the initial selection, Google says it will talk with interested cities over the coming months about the possibility of expanding the network to other cities across the U.S. in the future.
