After years of lobbying now, Triangle residents and leaders may get their wish next week: Google Fiber. A “save the date” notice sent out by Google’s Triangle media representatives promises news of some sort next week.
But are you suffering from Google Fiber fatigue?
PR reps Billy Warden and Greg Behr didn’t respond to a request for more information about what Google has in store.
Google has steadfastly refused to discuss any possible Triangle plans, having delayed a fiber expansion announcement that had been expected before 2014 came to a close. (Also on the short list is Charlotte.)
WRAL TechWire reported Dec. 2 that Google had formed a Google Fiber company legally in North Carolina. Yet Google has stayed quiet.
When a top Google Fiber exec came to town on Dec. 9, she talked about how communities can work with Google Fiber to land possible expansion and praised the City of Raleigh’s efforts led by CTO Gail Roper. But otherwise, mum was the word.
Competitors keep digging
Meanwhile, AT&T is putting fiber in the ground for its own gigabit Internet “GigaPower”) offering in the Triangle. (Fiber is being installed in my neighborhood as I write this), including the North Carolina Next Generation Network.
And Frontier is digging fiber all over Durham County.
So if and when Google Fiber announces that the Triangle will get Google Fiber – well, it’s good news because that means more competition, better product and lower prices.
But much of the buzz factor is wearing off.
Here’s what would be even bigger news: If Time Warner Cable were to announce its own fiber upgrades.
Unless Google is much farther along in deployment plans in the Triangle than anyone is yet to acknowledge, how long will it be before Google Fiber begins lighting up more than a few select neighborhoods?
So circle your calendar and look for Google’s announcement next week.
But don’t be surprised if a lot of people just don’t say. “Ho, hum.”
