Gigabit Squared is getting ready to deliver Google Fiber-like speeds at Google Fiber-like prices in Seattle, where it will face off with incumbent ISPs Comcast and CenturyLink.
On Monday, the economic development initiative that’s targeting U.S. college towns and teaming with local governments, said its top-end, symmetrical 1 Gigabit per second “Plan C” tier for residential customers will sell for $80 per month, and waive the $350 installation fee if customers agree to a one-year contract.
Gigabit Squared, which will start to offer services in Seattle in early 2014, also outlined these service options:
- Plan A: 5 Mbps down by 1 Mbps up for free for 60 months. After that period, customers can convert to a symmetrical 10 Mbps for $10 per month
- Plan B: 100 Mbps symmetrical for $45 per month.
By comparison, Google Fiber sells its 1-Gig plan in the Kansas City area for $70 per month, and waives the $300 “construction fee” if customers sign up for one- or two-year service contracts. Google Fiber has also committed to offer a 5 Mbps down/1 Mbps up tier for free for at least seven years to customers who pay the construction fee.
Comcast’s top end residential DOCSIS 3.0 tier offers 105 Mbps up by 20 Mbps down. CenturyLink, which is testing a 1 Gig service in Omaha, Neb., offers a tier that maxed out at 40 Mbps downstream in Seattle.
Under its Gigabit Seattle project, Gigabit Squared fiber network will initially cover the areas within the West Campus District, First Hill, Capitol Hill and Central Area of Seattle. The project has identified 14 Seattle neighborhoods for the fiber buildout. Gigabit Squared Seattle also intends to offer a "full television service" sometime next year.
he-top video from many of the existing networks such as Netflix, Hulu, Apple, Google and through many of the others currently available through our gigabit service.
Gigabit Squared Seattle will be offering full television service in 2014.
- See more at: http://gigabitseattle.com/faqs/customer-faqs/#faq-729
s. We plan on offering the services our customer’s request. Video has been one of those cornerstone services. Gigabit Squared Seattle is an open access network and we fully support and expect our customers to access over-the-top video from many of the existing networks such as Netflix, Hulu, Apple, Google and through many of the others currently available through our gigabit service.
Gigabit Squared Seattle will be offering full television service in 2014.
- See more at: http://gigabitseattle.com/faqs/customer-faqs/#faq-729
Reminiscent of Google’s “Fiber Rally” approach in the Kansas City area, Gigabit Squared said it will use a sign-up process to prioritize the neighborhood rollout schedule. That process will get underway in July. Since the launch of the Gigabit Seattle Website in December “thousands of Seattle residents have already expressed an interest in the service,” Gigabit Squared president Mark Ansboury said, in a statement.
“We're one step closer to bringing gigabit speed broadband to Seattle," said Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn, in a statement. We are leveraging our new public-private partnership with the University of Washington and Gigabit Squared to help Seattle compete in the global economy. I'm excited to see how our residents and businesses can innovate with this new infrastructure."
