In accordance with those needs, Google has been rolling out Fiber in big cities, with the latest being Charlotte, North Carolina.
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Firms that have signed up for Google Fiber’s business service but have not yet been connected will get the old, cheaper rate for the first year after their connections are installed.
Google Fiber said in January 2015 it was bringing its high-speed service to Charlotte as well as three other metro areas: Nashville, Atlanta and Raleigh. As part of today’s launch, Google Fiber is offering a $15-per-month broadband option for communities in need with speeds up to 25 Mbit/s, and free gigabit Internet to select public and affordable housing buildings.
“We know that businesses come in different shapes and sizes”, Google Fiber Product Manager John Shriver-Blake wrote in a blog post. “They have varying needs and would like the flexibility to choose a plan that best fits their needs”.
Google is also introducing plans for eligible small businesses in Charlotte. Small businesses in cities where Google Fiber is available will be able to pick upload and download speeds ranging from 100 Mbps to 1000 Mbps.
Google’s expansion into Charlotte, its acquisition of Webpass, and its expansion into fiber sales to businesses all reflect the company’s continued progress on its FTTH efforts, as well as its continued work to challenge incumbent ISPs such as telcos AT&T and Verizon and cable operators like Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA) and Charter Communications (NASDAQ: CHTR). If that’s a little pricey, then a business can also get 250 Mbps for $100 and 100 Mbps for $70. Originally, the company offered symmetrical gigabit service with an SLA for $100 per month.
Google Fiber already operates in the Kansas City area; Austin, Texas; and Provo, Utah. Or, they can immediately switch to the $70 per month tier, and make do with 100 Mbps.
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Google Fiber will soon nix early-access pricing for its gigabit business service and will more than double its costs for new customers in August.
