Google to expand fiber network to 34 cities

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Google is set to expand its high-speed fiber optic network, which provides speeds a 100 times faster than regular internet connections, to 34 cities.

Google Fiber has been installed in three locations across the country: Austin, Kansas City and Provo. They now plan to take their high-speed internet to nine metropolitan regions, encompassing 34 cities across the country. Some of these cities include Charlotte, Raleigh, San Antonio, San Jose, Mountain View, Palo Alto and Phoenix.

But residents of these cities should not expect these services any time soon. Google wrote on its blog that it will "work closely with each city’s leaders on a joint planning process that will not only map out a Google Fiber network in detail, but also assess what unique local challenges we might face."

Google hopes to harness some of the existing infrastructure in these cities to roll out Fiber. The company said it hopes to bring Google Fiber to all the cities named but that "it might not work out for everyone."

In Kansas, Google charges subscribers $70 each month for the high-speed internet connection, and for $120 you can get an internet connection, cable services and a Nexus 7. For a 5 Mbps connection, the company charges nothing other than a one-time $300 construction fee.

[Google] [USAToday]