Alphabet Inc., which is the parent company of the California-based Google Inc. (which is responsible for the highly popular search engine) has Google Fiber, which is an ultra-high-speed Internet service. The service is up and running in five markets and is currently exploring other markets, which includes Louisville. Competitors are already seen in the markets wherein the company is eyeing to place their high-speed Internet connection to. Rivals are already seen to be making changes with their plans to maintain their competitive edges and to prevent customers from jumping ship, as per a Business Day report.
Competitors of Google Fiber are Seen to be Making Changes With Their Plans to Maintain Competitive Edge
For markets of other Internet service providers wherein Google Fiber is currently eyeing, customers found in these sectors often meant better or expanded services, and at lowered prices. As for the markets that already have the search engine giant’s ultra-high-speed Internet connection service, there has already been a $20-a-month drop in the average cost, according the aforementioned report. However, the story did not specify as to whether that was all of the company’s Internet plans or just the gigabit one.
Putting aside the price competition, the drop might also have to do something with Google building out infrastructure; or it could be with cities that are trying to smooth the path for the firm by changing rules that make overhead costs more expensive for its rivals. It could, say, by lowering the cost of a permit or relaxing regulations, as what the report said.
Google Fiber’s services even got Texas to let it dig shallower trenches, and this meant “activation is much faster and less expensive,” as what a government spokeswoman has told Business Day. Back in Louisville, the Metro Council had just recently passed an ordinance that would allow Google to ask for other telecom providers to install its technology on poles. Reports claim that there are many of the company’s rivals that were not happy with that decision, and it even sparked a lawsuit.
“Louisville is an excellent example of showing how legislation and regulation can enable — or in other cases hinder — the ability for companies to compete and provide consumers with more choice,” Craig Barratt, Access CEO, who also oversees Google Fiber, stated in an interview with Re/Code which is transcribed by CNBC News. “We think it’s a great example that Louisville has made as a city — to create regulations or improve regulations that make it easier for these investments to be made in these sorts of networks,” Barratt said.