Evaluation: Taking the New Google Fiber High-Speed Network for a Road Test
By Karla Robinson
August 2, 2012
August 2, 2012
- GigaOM writer Dave Greenbaum takes a look at Google Fiber in action, noting some drawbacks to the otherwise impressive, high-speed network.
- To start, he downloaded various files to test the speed over the wired connection and Wi-Fi. “These tests show one of the limitations of Google’s Fiber network, other services. Since Google Fiber is providing virtually unheard of speeds for their subscribers, companies like Apple and I suspect Hulu, Netflix and Amazon will need to keep up,” he explains.
- “I downloaded a few (legal) torrents and while it’s hard to compare torrents at any given moment, a popular file downloaded at extremely high speeds,” he notes. “Subscribers will pay for high-speed Internet but may not notice the difference when compared with friends with top-tier broadband.”
- “Another limitation may be the fact that Google appears to be using a gigabit PON based on a screen shot of an interface to the Network box. If this is the case, speed could be reduced by other users,” Greenbaum writes.
- Other concerns include: lack of popular cable channels, outstanding contracts with other providers, the lack of a landline IP, compatibility issues with Google’s Network Box (the required router for Fiber), and finally privacy (will Google be spying on users’ Internet use?).
- All in all, the service is still promising. “I’m delighted they have bucked the trend against slow speeds and obnoxious bandwidth caps,” Greenbaum concludes. “I realize that in order to control the experience, you’ll have to use their hardware but Google has everything to gain by making their system as configurable as possible. As the service becomes more popular, content systems will be forced to upgrade their networks to keep up, although that means that bandwidth could slow down for some customers in theory.”
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