Google confirms plan to bring Google Fiber to San Francisco

Google has confirmed plans to bring its ultra-high-speed internet service, Google Fiber, to San Francisco, although on a limited basis and providing free service to some public and affordable housing properties.

Reports quoting company officials said the plan is to provide service to some apartment, condos and affordable housing properties in the city where fiber networks are already available.

Google had, in October, said it was working with San Jose officials to bring in the gigabit-speed, fiber-optic service, and had applied for a number of necessary permits. Wednesday's announcement has come as a surprise.
 
"We have a lot of work to do before we can offer details on service and timing, or identify the specific condos, apartments, and affordable housing properties that will be connected," a Google blog post said.
 
San Jose continues to work with Google on Fiber service, according to the mayor's office. "We've been thrilled to see a number of companies move forward with plans to offer ultra-high-speed internet connectivity in our city," reports quoted San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo as saying. "I remain optimistic that Google Fiber will soon begin building a citywide fiber network in San Jose."

Google said, unlike its usual attempts to build fibre-optic networks from the ground up, it would take a different approach in San Francisco. According to Google Fiber director of business operations, Michael Slinger, the company will make use of existing fiber to ''bring service to some apartments, condos, and affordable housing properties.''

Earlier, Google had tested the use of existing fibre in Huntsville, Atlanta, bringing gigabit internet service to apartment buildings. With the Huntsville move, Google would team up with a city-owned network, instead of financing the entire network.
 
''We have a lot of work to do before we can offer details on service and timing, or identify the specific condos, apartments, and affordable housing properties that will be connected,'' Slinger continued in the Google blog post. ''San Francisco offers tremendous potential for gigabit internet, and we hope Google Fiber will provide more fuel for this city's pioneering residents and entrepreneurs.''