Google Fiber officially is coming to Sandy Springs, Brookhaven, Atlanta, Avondale Estates, College Park, Decatur, East Point, Hapeville and Smyrna. The announcement about the ultra-high speed Internet service was made a press conference Jan. 27.
“It’s a huge deal. It’s a tremendous opportunity for our city, our citizens and business community” said Brookhaven City Councilman Bates Mattison, who attended the announcement along with Mayor J. Max Davis, Councilman Joe Gebbia and City Manager Marie Garrett.
The nine cities will work closely with Google on the next steps to build a brand new fiber-optic network capable of delivering gigabit speeds throughout the service areas. This process will take months. A date for when consumers can sign up for the service was not announced.
“We want the metropolitan Atlanta region to be a place where people bring and build their dreams,” Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said.
Gebbia said having access to Google Fiber would boost Brookhaven. “It’s going to help increase home values,” he said. “It’s goig attact more entrepreneurial businesses to Brookhaven and that’s going to protect the residential tax base. It’s a win-win for everybody.”
Today’s average American broadband speed is 11.5 Megabits per second. In contrast, Google Fiber will bring Atlanta residents access to “gigabit” internet connections up to 1,000 Megabits per second.
AT&T earlier this year announced plans for its own high-speed fiber Internet service in Atlanta and Sandy Springs.
Google Fiber service will cost about $70 a month for Internet alone and about $130 a month for Internet and television, Google Fiber marketing director Scott Levitan said. A slower version will be offered for a $300 connection fee with no monthly charges or $25 a month for a year, Levitan said.
Google also announced plans for Fiber connections in metro areas around Nashville, Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham.
“We are here because of the hard work, passion and commitment of the city and its leaders,” said Kevin Lo, director of business operations for Google Fiber. “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. Atlanta is the perfect city to show us what’s possible, and we can’t wait to see what Atlanta will do with Fiber.”
Joe Earle contributed to this report.
