Construction of Google Fiber, a 3,400 miles of fiber-optic cable that will provide Internet speeds up to 2GB a second, started in Midtown Atlanta June 26, according to WABE.
Google Fiber will service other Georgia areas, such as Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, College Park, East Point, Decatur, Hapeville, Sandy Springs and Smyrna, according to WABE.
Georgia State Director of Network & Telecommunications Services Noel Small said since Google Fiber is aimed towards residences and small businesses, it won’t immediately impact Georgia State.
“Georgia State’s wired network offers 1 gigabit of wired access to desktops, which is the same as Google Fiber currently advertises,” Small said. “In addition, as a research institution and a member of the Internet2 network, we have the ability to provide speeds of up to 10 times the speeds offered by Google Fiber for specialized research connections between institutions.
Small said the multiple network connections used to support CatChat and CatChat2x allows up to 10 times more bandwidth than what Google Fiber is advertising.
Georgia State Biology student Anthony Sobowale said he thinks infrastructure is something the United States lacks.
“Acquiring data speeds above 20Mbps at a competitive price here is ridiculous not to mention that in most non-urbans areas, you have an option of one or two ISPs with one being fast but expensive and the other slow but affordable,” he said.
Small also said Google Fiber could have a beneficial effect on Georgia State by providing faster available Internet speeds across Atlanta, which could help the campus community have more ways of connection to other parts of Atlanta.
“Faster available Internet speeds across Atlanta may provide the campus community more and better ways to connect with us while away from campus,” Small said. “It is also possible that Google Fiber could allow us to connect to other organizations more efficiently to take advantage of technical services hosted outside of the university, but made easier to connect with because of Google Fiber’s presence in the area.”
Tristan D. Fernandes, a Georgia State Political Science student, said the sooner Internet can be provided for everyone, the faster society will grow.
“The closer we get to Internet for all, the faster our society can grow,” Fernandes said. “The next step is space Internet provided by a grid network of satellites envisioned by Elon Musk.”
Small said if Georgia State found out Google Fiber could enhance a component of Georgia State’s network such as speed or connectivity, then they would consider ways to take advantage of it.
