Google Fiber has announced its biggest expansion since the service launched more than a decade ago, extending its network to 30 new US cities over the next 18 months. The expansion will bring Google Fiber's coverage to over 100 American cities and is expected to reach more than 8 million additional homes.
The new service tiers are significantly faster than what most Americans currently have access to. Google Fiber's flagship plan offers 10 Gbps symmetrical speeds β enough to download a 4K movie in under 3 seconds β at $70 per month. A 2 Gbps plan is available at $45/month, and a 1 Gbps plan starts at $25/month with a two-year commitment.
The announcement is a direct challenge to incumbents like Comcast, Charter, and AT&T, which dominate most American broadband markets. In cities where Google Fiber has launched previously, research consistently shows that it forces competing ISPs to lower prices and increase speeds for all customers, not just those who switch.
"The ISP monopoly has cost American consumers billions and left the US lagging behind South Korea, Japan, and much of Europe in internet speeds," said Google Fiber CEO Dinni Jain. "We are here to fix that."
Cities in the new expansion wave include Raleigh-Durham, Indianapolis, Tampa, Pittsburgh, Louisville, Omaha, and Tucson, among others.
