Google Fiber Working with Huntsville to Connect More People

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA — Google Fiber announced that it is bringing Google Fiber to Huntsville, Alabama, using part of the fiber network that Huntsville Utilities is building.

Now more than ever, cities are exploring new ways to help their communities flourish with fiber. Like any infrastructure, such as roads or electric grids, a fiber network is a long-term investment that can benefit a city for decades. In 2014, Huntsville’s leaders shared their vision for a community energized by superfast speeds — and they decided to build a network that could support an electrical smart grid and other municipal needs, plus provide the best of the web for local families, entrepreneurs, businesses and academics alike. To help achieve this goal, the city asked to hear from fiber providers who might be interested in working together. So Google called.

Google Working with Existing Fiber Networks
While Google has built the majority of its Google Fiber networks from scratch, it is now looking at every city's unique situation and is taking different approaches in different places. In Provo, Utah, Google Fiber service is being delivered over a network the company purchased from the city. In Atlanta, Google is both constructing a new network, while using existing fiber to provide Google Fiber to some apartment buildings. In Huntsville, Google Fiber will be working with a muni-owned network to bring high-speed service to the city.

Few places are better positioned than Huntsville to show what’s possible with top Internet speeds. Known as Huntsville The Rocket City boasts the highest concentration of engineers in the country, and ranks among the best places in the country for STEM workers. Ultrafast Internet will help enable Huntsville to remain at the forefront of science and tech. Pending final approvals, Huntsville Utilities will design and construct its network. Once the network is built, Google Fiber — or any other broadband provider — will be able to bring high-speed Internet service to the city. Updates will be posted as the build-out progresses at Google Fiber/Huntsville.