Internet search giant Google who recently announced plans to build the world's fastest broadband network with speed over 1GB per second and that too for free, has reported that more than 600 communities have responded and shown interest to avail the best network. Apart from the 600 communities, some 190,000 individuals are also reported to have forwarded the request.
Google plans to build a high speed fiber optic broadband network which would serve some 50,000 to 500,000 people as a test project for free. Speed is told to be 100 times faster than what current networks in the market offer. Evaluation will be done by consulting officials and interacting with third party organizations to review and announce the winner. The successful community or communities will be announced at the end of the year, said the Google blog.
Activities from major cities and towns are being witnessed all over the U.S. Rallies, banners, names as well as more creative stuff have been given a thought to avail the opportunity Google is offering. One such activity which I cannot get out of mind as well as which I personally would like to deem as the winner is the city of Topeka whose mayor has announced to change the name temporarily for the month of March as 'Google'.
The company is already experienced in providing such type of services as it offers a wireless network in its hometown. Google is also an investor in Clearwire Corp., which has the technology of providing high-speed wirless technology called the WiMax to provide Internet access.
Google's broadband plan is designed to support the step taken by the U.S. government which recently announced a 10 year broadband plan. Deadline for submitting entries was Friday, which saw a humongous response for communities all around.
The Google Blog reported:
We're thrilled to see this kind of excitement, and we want to humbly thank each and every community and individual for taking the time to participate. This enthusiasm is much bigger than Google and our experimental network. If one message has come through loud and clear, it's this: people across the country are hungry for better and faster Internet access.
[via Google Blog]