The great majority of Google’s products are free, which means you are what’s for sale. It’s that simple. However, in the case of Google Fiber, the company’s trendsetting commercial broadband service, they are taking the high road, doing the right thing and, potentially, leaving moving on the table.
The company that told us “don’t be evil” and then put a glasshole in every tech conference restroom has done something cool. A fresh post on the Google Fiber blog informs that they do peering the right way and won’t charge media companies for fast lane access to viewers.
We also don’t charge because it’s really a win-win-win situation. It’s good for content providers because they can deliver really high-quality streaming video to their customers. For example, because Netflix colocated their servers along our network, their customers can access full 1080p HD and, for those who own a 4K TV, Netflix in Ultra HD 4K. It’s good for us because it saves us money (it’s easier to transport video traffic from a local server than it is to transport it thousands of miles). But most importantly, we do this because it gives Fiber users the fastest, most direct route to their content.
Quite naturally, Google Fiber is pointing those arrows fashioned from pointed words at Comcast and Verizon, two of the largest broadband providers, which charge Netflix extra for “fast lane” access to residential customers. Yep, those sleaze bags charge two twice to move the same traffic and Google Fiber promising they won’t.
The big problem? Google Fiber is only available in a couple cities and the sleaze bags are everywhere — there’s little to no effective broadband competition in most US cities.
Yep, that is THE problem…
What’s your take?
Via GigaOM