UPDATED 12:39 EDT / MARCH 30 2011

Google Bringing Ultra Fast Broadband to Kansas City. Town Renaming Next?

In an effort to encourage existing internet service providers to offer higher speeds, Google chose Kansas City, Kansas as the first city where it will deploy an “ultra” high-speed broadband network. This project doesn’t mean Google is ready to jump into the internet service providers market and take on AT&T Verizon and others (yet), but it does mean users residing in the Kansas City will be able to enjoy internet speeds of 1 GBPS, or about 100 times more than the average speed internet subscribers use to access their Gmail account.  We all know how much Google loves a social experiment, and we can only hope Kansas City will eventually change its name to “Google.”

“Google has said it will share what it learns, presumably to prompt existing internet service providers to offer higher speeds. Faster internet connections, of course, should ultimately mean more people will use Google’s products.”

Google’s project is a small one compared to the tens of millions of people internet service providers target, and is expected to offer service to only 50,000-500,000 individuals. Nevertheless, the internet giant officially entered yet another segment, and managed to stir a lot of buzz by doing so. More than 1,100 U.S cities applied to host Google’s ultra fast broadband project, but Kansas City was eventually chosen.

High speed internet connections, notably on the go, will help boost just about every web-based industry. They will also drive demand to the providers who offer the best service, which is why today Verizon made a couple of huge strides towards achieving that. The no. 1 mobile carrier announced it will start deploying 100G (GBPS) networks in 3 major segments in the U.S, including Los Angeles, New York and yet again Kansas City. Sources also report Verizon will launch nearly a dozen 4G LTE product, most of which are Android Smartphones.

Google and Verizon are speeding towards the future of web access coverage, but archenemy AT&T also has plans it intends to facilitate with the acquisition of T-Mobile USA. The $39 billion deal would allow AT&T slide past Verizon as the number one carrier with over 130 million subscribers.


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