Is Google Fiber back from the dead?

Late last year, when Google Fiber announced that it was halting its build-out, we presumed the company’s claim that it was rethinking its operation and considering fixed wireless solutions was a way to save face as it retreated from the broadband infrastructure industry.

After all, with a decade in the business, Google Fiber had fewer than 85,000 video subscribers and one expert said its fiber rollout was “more bark than bite.” The search giant started canceling accounts in Kansas City, MO, its flagship city, and cut the Google Fiber staff by half.

Now, however, it looks like Google Fiber is preparing for another run at the broadband business. The company posted job positions in the Louisville area, where the company has fought hard to enter the market. But what’s more interesting is Google Fiber’s architecture change. While the company’s announcement was light on details, it said Louisville would be the test location for a fiber-wireless hybrid architecture.

How does this technology work? Does it work? We’ll have to wait and see.  

Links:

Google Fiber halts build-out (Speed Matters, Oct. 27, 2016)

Google Fiber has less than 85,000 pay-TV subscribers (Speed Matters, Mar. 31, 2017)

Google's fiber buildout: "more bark than bite" (Speed Matters, Apr. 26, 2016)

Google Fiber cancels customer accounts in flagship Kansas City (Speed Matters, Mar. 23, 2017)

Google Fiber – there’s not much “there” there (Speed Matters, Sept. 2, 2016)

Google Fiber seeks new sales, operations staff for Louisville, Kentucky (FierceTelecom, Aug. 14, 2017)