Do you remember using the Internet on dial-up? It was terrible, yes, but we didn’t realize just how bad it was until high-speed Internet entered the market. You don’t always see how bad something is when you’re using it in the moment. It’s only when the new technology comes along to replace the incumbent that you think back on the awfulness of dial-up.
Well, things are about to change in Charlotte for everyone—residents, businesses, and organizations. Why? Google Fiber…that’s why. Charlotteans are on the cusp of going from “high-speed” Internet to the lightning fast Google Fiber. And, just like before when cable Internet and DSL changed the game for all of us, we don’t yet know all the ways in which Fiber will enhance our lives—at home and work.
That’s the point that Jeff Stovall, CIO for the City of Charlotte, made at yesterday’s GigWOW event at DC74. Presented by Charlotte Hearts Gigabit and BIG council, Jeff spoke to an audience of Charlotte professionals and entrepreneurs that were eager to learn more about Fiber.
Jeff made the point that we know as much about the changes Google Fiber will bring to our lives as we did many years ago when high-speed Internet took over 56k modems: it’s going to be faster…MUCH faster.
For example, if your home Internet connection is 10 Mbps now, it would take you nearly 5 minutes to download 100 photos. On Fiber, it would take 3 seconds—100x faster. That’s not an exaggeration. Aside from super fast download and upload speed, we don’t know how Fiber will enrich our lives.
And here’s the important thing to keep in mind: It’s okay not to know. What is important, however, is that Fiber will bring about change. Innovations we never thought possible will become part of our daily lives because of Google Fiber in the same way that YouTube is part of our daily lives now. Could anyone have predicted back when we were still dialing up that there’d be a YouTube one day? Of course not.
Why? Because innovation breeds innovation, and the next YouTube will be possible because of Google Fiber. It’s not a question of if, but when. Judging by the experience shared among cities that already have Google Fiber, my guess is that innovation will precipitate almost as fast as you can download 100 photos on Fiber.
Get excited Charlotte. Fiber is coming.
Editor;s note: Terry Cox, who helms the Big Council, notes that AT&T has already launched high speed GigaPower in Charlotte and Time Warner Capble plans upgrading clients eo 300 mbs by November.
