Latest news with #GoogleFiber
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Spectrum, Google Fiber lines vandalized in Kansas City as part of rising trend
Law enforcement is investigating several incidents of vandalism to Spectrum and Google Fiber lines in the Kansas City area over the last week., part of a recent trend of vandalism to network infrastructure across the country. Three Spectrum fiber optic lines were cut in the KC area Saturday, according to a spokesperson for the company. Restoration to the lines began Saturday and was completed early Sunday morning. Spectrum is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to an arrest. Those with information may call the Spectrum tip line at 833-404-8477. Google Fiber lines in the area were also purposely cut, and a police report was filed, a company representative said. In a statement, Andy Simpson, the general manager for Google Fiber's central region, pointed to 'strong evidence of vandalism.' Kansas City and Kansas City, Kansas, police said they are investigating the Spectrum vandalism. The FBI office in Kansas City is aware of the matter and remains in contact with local law enforcement, authorities said. In the metro, vandalism to network infrastructure has grown over the last nine months. There is not a concrete motive as to why vandals choose to damage telecommunication lines, officials said. Historically, there has been a copper angle to these acts of vandalism. Vandals take sections of copper from these lines to resell. However, fiber optic lines do not contain copper and instead use thin strands of glass to transmit signals. The incidents come as part of what The Internet & Television Association, an industry lobbying group, said was a wave of vandalism to network infrastructure across the country. A report released by the group last year said there had been 5,770 intentional incidents of theft and vandalism between June and December 2024. The report noted 305 incidents in Missouri and 22 in Kansas during that period. The group pointed to the rising value of copper as a factor, even in incidents where there is no copper. 'In the indiscriminate search for copper, even modern communications facilities, such as fiber-optic transmission lines and wireless communications towers that have no copper, have been sabotaged,' the report said. 'These incidents of theft and vandalism have become increasingly common and create unnecessary service disruptions that threaten and harm American citizens, consumers and businesses.' Simpson says that Google Fiber hopes the public engages in 'see something, say something' if they see someone tampering with telecommunication lines. 'If people do see — folks out that don't seem like their utility workers or otherwise — that's important to us is that people speak up when they see something,' he said. 'Getting our customers back up is the most important kind of aspect of managing and maintaining our network and providing the service, and so that's what we focus on is how quickly can we respond and get crews and teams on site to fix the outage and repair it,' Simpson said. He went on to say that, when incidents happen, the goal is to get connections to customers back up 'in the shortest amount of time possible.' The Star's Nathan Pilling contributed reporting.
Tom's Guide
17-05-2025
- Tom's Guide
I built the ultimate remote play setup with Wi-Fi 7 to say goodbye to stuttery gameplay for good — here's how
The promise of being able to play your console or PC games smoothly from anywhere in your home on your phone or tablet seems almost too good to be true. And unfortunately, for most people it actually is. Getting an identical experience to what you'd see on your TV or monitor with remote play is next to impossible unless all the pieces fit perfectly in place. From your home internet connection to your router to the way you have everything connected and even the device you plan on playing remotely on, there are countless variables that can make or break your remote play experience. I remember how excited I was to try out remote play back when I first got one of the best phone controllers, as I could almost instantly transform my smartphone into a game console. While native games worked great I couldn't say the same thing about remote play. I'd miss the timing of a jump or an attack due to lag. Or when things were working somewhat well, my phone would disconnect from my console or my PC and immediately take me out of the action. Both remote play and my home network have come a long way since then. However, to get the remote play experience I've always dreamed of, I knew I still had to make a few changes. Keep in mind, though, these changes didn't happen overnight. Instead, they're the culmination of several different upgrades and a few new devices that I've picked up recently to finally achieve this. Here's how I completely leveled up my remote play experience along with everything you need to know about the devices and apps I used to make it happen. Back when I first gave remote play a try, I was using a router from my internet service provider and a sub-gigabit internet connection in my old apartment. When I moved into my house, though, one of the best Wi-Fi routers was one of the first purchases I made to break free from my ISP. As it turns out, a single router wasn't enough for the remote play experience I wanted. To finally rid my home of Wi-Fi dead zones, I went all in and upgraded to one of the best mesh Wi-Fi systems with Wi-Fi 6E. This fixed a lot of my overall connectivity problems, but I still wasn't quite ready for stutter-free remote play. At that time, my cable internet was limited to just over a gigabit down while upgrading to one my ISP's multi-gig plans cost an arm and a leg. (In fact, they still do.) As I was in the process of upgrading to Wi-Fi 7 to try out the latest wireless standard for myself, I decided to ditch cable internet for good in favor of something much much faster. I had always imagined that one day I'd upgrade to Google Fiber as soon as it became available in my area. That day never came, but a local fiber provider had wired our whole neighborhood for even faster internet a few years ago. To fully utilize the eero Max 7 mesh system I was testing, I knew I'd need much faster internet speeds, so I gave that fiber provider a call. After a bit of back and forth on the phone, they sent a team out to connect my home to the main fiber line on our street and we were in business. Suddenly, I went from gigabit internet to multi-gig internet with a full 10 gigabit connection without any data caps or other restrictions to worry about. I now had a lot more bandwidth to work with but I still needed some Wi-Fi 7-equipped devices to take full advantage of these faster speeds. Fortunately, I saw a tablet that caught my attention at CES 2025, and it turned out to be the perfect fit for a better remote play experience. But more on that in a bit. With a faster fiber connection coming into my home and a three-piece eero Max 7 mesh kit set up throughout my house, my download speeds saw a major increase. In this photo for instance, I was able to get more than 2 gigabits per second (Gbps) down over Wi-Fi with plenty of other devices connected to my home network. After laying the perfect foundation for a better remote play experience, it was time to pick out the devices that would make it as comfortable as possible, starting with the controller. If you've ever used a smaller mobile game controller, then you know how playing with one for hours can lead to your hands cramping up. For the best remote play experience, I needed a controller that was comfortable to hold for long hours along with extra remappable buttons so that I could give my thumbs a rest from time to time. At CES, I also got a chance to try out Razer's new PC Remote Play platform. Like Steam Link, Moonlight or other similar services, it aims to provide a better and smoother overall experience when streaming games from one of the best gaming PCs to your phone or tablet. The demo definitely impressed me, but it was also my first time going hands-on with the Razer Kishi Ultra. Unlike the original Razer Kishi controller or the upgraded Kishi V2, the Kishi Ultra takes things up a notch with its full-sized form factor. From its face buttons to its thumbsticks, all of its parts are the same size as the ones you'd find on one of the best PC game controllers. And of course, you get that signature touch of RGB lighting Razer is known for. The thing that intrigued me most about the Razer Kishi Ultra is that instead of stopping at just over 6.5-inches like other mobile game controllers, it can extend all the way up to 8.3-inches. This means that you're not limited to only using your smartphone with remote play; you can use one of the best tablets as well, given it has the right dimensions. Razer Kishi Ultra: $149 @ Best BuyIf you like playing games on your phone or even a smaller tablet like the iPad mini 7, but prefer the feel of a full-sized Xbox controller, then the Razer Kishi Ultra is your best bet. In addition to larger thumbsticks, it also has mecha-tactile face buttons, Hall Effect Triggers, a pair of programmable buttons on top and Razer's Chroma RGB lighting on the check: $149 @ Amazon Given that Razer went as far as to feature it on the Razer Kishi Ultra's box, I decided that I too had to test out this super-sized mobile game controller with the iPad mini. Even though I'm a long-time Android user, I spent two weeks trying out one of the best iPads and I can easily say, the iPad mini 7 is a fantastic device. It's easy to pick up and use, and I was really impressed by just how long the iPad's battery lasted in standby mode. However, it wasn't quite perfect for my ultimate remote play setup for two reasons. First off, the iPad mini 7 ships with Wi-Fi 6E and not Wi-Fi 7. For the purpose of this project, I wanted access to all of the new features that come with the latest wireless standard including multi-link operation (MLO) which lets you use multiple Wi-Fi bands (2.4, 5 and 6 GHz) simultaneously. Likewise, due to the tablet's narrower 3:2 aspect ratio, you get larger black bars at the top and bottom of its screen when playing games remotely. Remember that tablet that completely won me over at CES? Well, when I learned it was just the right size for the Razer Kishi Ultra, I ordered one immediately, especially as I knew it shipped with Wi-Fi 7 on board. To my surprise, the Lenovo Legion Tab 3 came with everything I needed right in the box. Not only did I get a 68W fast charger and a USB cable, but Lenovo also threw in a glass screen protector and a folio case with a detachable magnetic cover. It's also well-suited for playing games on its own as it is a gaming tablet after all. Even though its successor has just been announced, I'm still really happy with all of the features Lenovo has managed to cram into this tablet. From its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor to the fact that it ships with 12GB of LPDDR5X, this thing is a power house for everyday use and even with a 6,550 mAh battery, you're still going to be able to play remotely for hours on end without having to charge it. Another thing I really like about the Tab 3 is that it comes with dual USB-C ports, one on the right side and one on the middle in portrait mode. This lets you connect a controller like the Razer Kishi Ultra and still have another port free for direct charging or even for hooking up a pair of wired USB-C headphones. With an 8.8-inch 2.5K display, you get a bit more screen space than you do with the iPad mini, and the Tab 3's 16:10 aspect ratio means that the black bars while playing remotely are even smaller. If you have a fast PC and are using Razer's PC Remote Play, you can also take advantage of the Tab 3's faster 165Hz refresh rate as opposed to the standard 60Hz refresh rate on the iPad mini. Now that I had the network, the controller and the tablet I wanted, it was time to get the devices set up that would power my improved remote play experience. This gaming tablet features an 8.8-inch, 165Hz display with a Snapdragon Gen 3 processor, 12GB of RAM, 256GB of storage and Wi-Fi 7 support. It also comes with a folio case, a glass screen protector and a 68W fast charger in the box. If you want one of the best gaming laptops or a gaming PC with Wi-Fi 7 support, you won't have to look that hard these days. Now with consoles, it's a different story altogether. Back when Microsoft and Sony were designing the Xbox Series X and the PS5, neither the Wi-Fi 7 nor the Wi-Fi 6E wireless standards were finalized. To Sony's credit, it released the original PS5 with Wi-Fi 6 support while Microsoft only included Wi-Fi 5 support on the Series X. A mid-gen refresh would have really helped the Xbox's Wi-Fi prowess but Microsoft decided to forgo one altogether. Sony went all in on power and connectivity with the PS5 Pro though, which is the first and only console to ship with Wi-Fi 7. (Side note: the upcoming Switch 2 isn't getting Wi-Fi 7 support and will be Wi-Fi 6 only.) In order to take my console remote play to the next level, Sony kindly sent over a PS5 Pro for me to test out. It's a huge upgrade over my old PS4 Pro and thanks to my ultimate remote play setup, I've been able to catch up on all the best PS5 games I've missed out on so far this console generation like Spider-Man 2 and Astrobot. On the PC side, I'm using the AtomMan G7 Ti which features a Nvidia RTX 4070 laptop GPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, a Core i9 processor and of course, Wi-Fi 7 support. You might be wondering why I'm not using a big gaming desktop. Well, as I test and review the best mini PCs, I always have a few on hand for projects like this one. Now that I had the devices powering my ultimate remote play setup on the backend, it was time to put it to the test. PS5 Pro: $699 @ AmazonThe PS5 Pro is the most powerful PlayStation ever. Unlike the PS5, the Pro system is readily available from multiple vendors like Amazon. Despite its steep $699 asking price, it's worth it if you're a die-hard PlayStation user. As a father with a 3-year-old, I don't get to play games nearly as much as I used to, and I rarely get a chance to plop down on the couch and play on my TV. With this setup, faster internet and a mesh router covering my whole home with a strong connection, I can now play games from anywhere in my house. The Legion Tab 3's larger 8.8-inch screen means I don't have to squint looking at a phone when playing remotely and the full-size thumbsticks, face buttons and remappable buttons on the top of the Razer Kishi Ultra prevent my hands from cramping up after longer gaming sessions. One thing that always drew me to remote play was the possibility of playing games in my bed on the other side of my house and with this setup, that's now possible. I've mainly been playing through Spider-Man 2 after finally beating Metaphor ReFantazio, and its action packed gameplay is a nice change after a 100-hour-long Atlus RPG. I'm a big fan of Mario and platformers in general, so I've also had a lot of fun playing Astrobot after finishing Astro's Playroom to get better acquainted with Sony's new DualSense controller. I also picked up a PlayStation Portal to try out with the PS5 Pro, and while I like how its controls are identical to the DualSense — it too has a large 8-inch screen — it's a Wi-Fi 5 device as opposed to a Wi-Fi 7 one. To get the Razer Kishi Ultra working with the PS5 Pro and my Xbox Series X I'm using Stream Game Dev's PXPlay and XBXPlay apps, respectively. That's because the PS Remote Play app limits you to using an official PlayStation controller or a licensed one like the Backbone One, while Xbox recently decided to take remote play out of its app and make you use a browser instead. They're both fantastic apps that I highly recommend. On PC, I did try Valve's Steam Link app but even with a faster and more reliable Wi-Fi 7 connection, I experienced stutters and some streaming issues. Thankfully, Razer's PC Remote Play app is based on the open-source PC streaming software Moonlight. As such, it gives you the perfect mix of low latency gameplay and high-quality streaming. Another thing that I really like about PC Remote Play is that instead of using the resolution of my gaming monitor, it can take full advantage of the device you're playing on. In my case with the Tab 3, I'm able to make full use of its 8.8-inch screen with no black bars whatsoever and its 165Hz refresh rate with compatible games. You do have to start streaming from your PC first using Razer's Synapse app but if you know you're going to be playing remotely, you can set this up before walking away from your PC. In addition to playing from my bed or the couch on either console or PC, I was also able to play for a bit outside in my back yard from the comfort of The Foldable Gaming Chair. My Wi-Fi 7-powered mesh network did extend beyond my home's walls a bit after I got everything all set up. However, when I added the eero Outdoor 7 mesh extender to the mix, I got an even stronger signal outdoors as it has a max range of 15,000 square feet. One thing to keep in mind with the eero Outdoor 7 is that it's a dual-band Wi-Fi 7 device instead of a tri-band one. Due to this, you don't get access to the faster 6GHz band found in the best Wi-Fi 7 routers. If you have a real need for speed, though, and you want to be able to remote play and stream video content as fast as possible, you're going to want to keep an eye out for TP-Link's upcoming Deco BE65-Outdoor mesh extender. Unlike the eero Outdoor 7, it will be a tri-band device. This tri-bad Wi-Fi 7 mesh kit comes in a two-pack or a three-pack and each unit can support more than 250 connected devices while covering up to 2,500 square feet with a strong Wi-Fi signal. In terms of ports, you get two 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports and two 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports. In our eero Max 7 review, we loved all the extra smart home features and how it can serve as a smart home hub for your other connected devices. This bundle throws in an eero Outdoor 7 so you can have Wi-Fi 7 out in your backyard too. It took a couple of months of planning, a few key upgrades and I did have to call in a few additional devices from Razer and Sony. But my ultimate remote play setup is now complete and I couldn't be happier. As someone who works from one of the best standing desks for hours on end each day, I don't necessarily want to be tied to a desk when I do get to kick back and play some games at the end of the day or during the weekend. Taking over the TV isn't an option either since my son or my wife get first dibs on the largest screen in our home. I know you might be thinking that one of the best handheld gaming consoles might have been a better and certainly less expensive option. You're not wrong on the second point, but the whole idea behind this setup was to give me a more convenient way to play my console games from anywhere in my home. As for portability, the Razer Kishi Ultra, while very comfortable, isn't the easiest controller to take with you due to its larger size. You also don't get a carrying case with it, though there are third-party cases available online. At the end of the day, my favorite thing about my ultimate remote play setup is that it's completely modular. If the controller breaks, I can swap it out with a new one and if I want to try out a different tablet, I can do that too. At $149, the Razer Kishi Ultra is definitely on the expensive side. However, there are some cheaper alternatives like the GameSir G8 Plus ($79, Amazon), which will also work with tablets, not just phones. How you want to play your games is completely up to you, but if you're looking to finally have a reliable remote play experience, you might just want to follow in my footsteps. As for me, I'm off to get a bit more remote play gaming in before I leave for Computex in Taiwan. And don't worry, I have another mobile game controller story planned for that trip, too.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Google Fiber Internet Review: Plans, Pricing, Speed and Availability
We consider fiber internet the gold standard at CNET, and Google Fiber is certainly a crowd-pleaser. It offers lightning-fast internet. Service is straightforward: Equipment is included and there are no data caps or contracts. Most Americans pay around $78 each month for home internet, before additional fees. With service starting at $70 per month and capping at $150, Google Fiber's pricing is higher than what the average American household likely pays for home internet. Is that higher price tag worth it? The $70 entry-level plan delivers symmetrical speeds up to a gigabit (1,000 megabits per second), and the speeds only go up from there. Google Fiber is one of the fastest national ISPs, offering 8,000Mbps in select areas and -- in even more select areas -- speeds up to 20 gigabits. Coverage is limited to metro areas in 19 states and parts of Washington, DC. However, that number is steadily growing as Google Fiber continues to expand to new markets. In January, Google Fiber announced plans to build out its network in Douglas County, Colorado, with service expected to be available by 2026. Limited availability aside, there's a lot to like about Google Fiber. As someone who appreciates high-speed internet and is willing to pay a little more for it, I'd say Google Fiber is worth the premium price. Few fiber providers match Google Fiber's speed potential, let alone service from cable or DSL providers. Read on to learn more about what service you can expect from Google Fiber. Source: CNET analysis of provider data. See at Unknown Merchant Google Fiber plans are priced competitively, although there are no cheap or low-cost options. Still, at $70 a month, Google Fiber's gig service is priced lower than 1-gig speeds from fiber providers like AT&T and Verizon Fios. Generally, the faster an internet speed, the lower the cost per megabits per second. Google Fiber's 1 Gig plan starts at $70 a month for speeds up to 1,000Mbps, which comes to an estimated cost per Mbps of 7 cents. The 3 Gig plan is even lower at 3 cents per Mbps. A sub-dime cost per Mbps is often a great internet deal, and Google Fiber plans' cost per Mbps is on par with or lower than the cost per Mbps offered by most providers. For comparison, Spectrum's cheapest plan (in most markets) starts at $50 monthly for speeds up to 500Mbps. It's cheaper than Google Fiber, but the cost per Mbps of 10 cents (plus the additional cost of $10 per month for your router rental -- which knocks the cost per Mbps up to 12 cents) indicates Google Fiber is the better deal. Truthfully, however, most households may not need more than 1 gig of internet; average households don't exceed download speeds of 569Mbps, according to data from OpenVault. It's easy to fall into internet pricing traps from your internet provider. On the bright side, Google Fiber doesn't have introductory pricing, so you don't have to worry about a price hike after 12 months. That's not to say the price will never go up, but there's no guarantee that it will after a certain period of time. Additionally, Google Fiber plans come with unlimited data (so no overage charges), no installation fees and no contracts with a required service length (no early termination fees). While unlimited data and no contracts are becoming more common among ISPs, some big-name providers will require you to sign an agreement to get the lowest pricing or tack on $50 or more in overage fees for exceeding a data cap. We appreciate Google Fiber's straightforward approach. Google Fiber includes a Multi-Gig Wi-Fi 6E router with all plans except for the 1Gbps plan, which includes a Nest Wi-Fi Pro router with Wi-Fi 6E capability. Multi-gig speed tiers, that's 3-gig and above, come with a Wi-Fi router plus up to two mesh access points, which extend the range and coverage of Wi-Fi service throughout your home up to around 5,000 square feet. If you need greater Wi-Fi coverage, additional access points are available to purchase for $100 each. If you'd like to use your own router instead, you certainly can -- you can even switch to the Wi-Fi 6E router down the road if you find the speeds lacking. Google Fiber is upping its game for home internet users. Google Fiber used to advertise 2- and 5-gig tiers but recently simplified its offerings. Customers can now choose between Core 1 Gig, Home 3 Gig, Edge 8 Gig, and its Google Webpass service. These upgraded plans also now come with perks that can enhance your service. For instance, customers can request a 25% refund on the 8-gigabit plan if their internet is down for more than 45 minutes. In addition, if you ever experience an internet outage, the Home 3 Gig and Edge 8 Gig plans offer an internet backup option that can get you connected for up to two hours. While Google Fiber is available in 19 states, it has nowhere near the coverage of rival fiber providers like AT&T, Verizon Fios or Quantum Fiber, but it does offer service in some relatively major markets. Kansas City, Missouri and Huntsville, Alabama have the greatest availability, but service can also be found in parts of Mesa, Arizona; Orange County, California; Atlanta, Georgia; Charlotte and the Raleigh/Durham area of North Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee; Austin and San Antonio, Texas; Salt Lake City and Provo, Utah; West Des Moines, Iowa; and soon, Las Vegas, Nevada. Select cities -- specifically Chicago, Denver, Miami, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Oakland, California -- will only have access to Google Webpass, a high-speed fixed wireless internet service similar to Starry Internet. To be eligible for service, customers must live in a building that is wired for Google Webpass. The list of cities that have access to Google Fiber is growing, as is the availability in markets where Google Fiber is currently. Admittedly, Google Fiber is still available to just over 1% of US households, according to the most recent FCC data. Fiber internet expansion is a lengthy and complicated process and Google Fiber occasionally halts work due to safety concerns. However, there are positive signs of growth and the rapid expansion continues in existing markets and new ones like Lakewood, Colorado and opportunity areas like Douglas County, Colorado. Furthermore (and encouraging to a suburbanite like myself), Google Fiber shows signs of expansion outside major city limits. For example, Google Fiber is set to expand into Concord and Matthews, North Carolina. I've lived in both Charlotte suburbs and would not have anticipated Google Fiber's availability to reach that far away from the city center. If Google Fiber is available in your area, it's safe to assume you also have a cable provider and possibly even another fiber provider available at your address. In that case, you'll want to know how Google Fiber compares. Compared to other fiber providers -- or really any ISP -- Google Fiber will have a higher starting price. You'll find lower monthly starting prices from AT&T Fiber ($55), Frontier Fiber ($30), Quantum Fiber ($45) and Verizon Fios ($50) but it is worth noting that the cheaper plans often come with significantly lower speeds. If such speeds are sufficient for your household, a more affordable plan like what's available from AT&T or Verizon Fios may be your best bet. If you're interested in gig service, Google Fiber will be tough to beat, even among competing fiber providers. At $70 a month, the starting pricing for Google Fiber's gig service is lower than AT&T and Verizon Fios ($80 and $90). As for comparing gig services from Google Fiber to cable internet providers like Spectrum or Xfinity, Google Fiber will probably be cheaper in the long term since most ISPs increase their prices after a year. But it'll likely also be faster, especially when considering upload speeds, and more reliable. Although Xfinity's gig plan is similar to Google Fiber's at $70 a month in some markets, that price jumps up to $106 after two years. Similarly, Spectrum's $70 gig plan will eventually jump to $100 after the first two years. Fiber internet has the potential to deliver symmetrical upload and download speeds, something cable internet can't do. In the case of Google Fiber's 3 Gig plan, you'll get maximum download and upload speeds of 3,000Mbps, cable providers fall short in that aspect. Upload speeds with cable internet top out at around 50Mbps, so you won't get anywhere near the same upload speeds with cable internet service. The connection quality of a fiber service is also typically better than a cable one, which can be susceptible to slowed speeds due to network congestion, especially during peak usage times. If you want to learn more about these connection types, read our review on cable vs. fiber. In its most recent report, the American Customer Satisfaction Index gave Google Fiber a score of 76/100, the same as in 2023. Last year's 76 was good enough to beat the category average (75), but it's even with it this year as other fiber ISPs improved their scores slightly. Still, AT&T Fiber and Verizon Fios were the only big providers named above Google Fiber, although Frontier Fiber and Quantum Fiber also received a 76. J.D. Power, another customer satisfaction resource we turn to when evaluating an internet provider, gave Google Fiber the top spot in the South region in 2023 and 2024. In short, customers appear to be as satisfied with Google Fiber as any other top provider, perhaps more so. While I would have liked to see Google Fiber's ACSI score increase year over year, there are no red flags indicating poor customer satisfaction. If you've got the need for speed, there is perhaps no better provider than Google Fiber, if the service is available in your area. Google Fiber has some of the best pricing on gig service and favorable service terms such as free equipment rental, unlimited data and no contract requirements, further adding to the value. The service isn't for everyone, especially if you don't need a lot of internet speed or you're looking to keep your internet bill under $70 a month. Be sure to consider all of your home internet options before committing to one in particular. Google Fiber currently advertises only 1-gig, 3-gig and 8-gig plans. However, this does not mean that it's 5-gigs plan is not available. According to the company website, its 5Gbps plan may be offered only in select markets such as Kansas City, Utah, Mesa and West Des Moines. Google Fiber availability is still highly limited -- only around 1% of US households are eligible for service, per the latest data from the FCC -- but the provider is working to increase its availability through continued growth in current and new markets. Just recently, Google Fiber announced that residents of Lakewood, Colorado, can now sign up for service. A Google Fiber spokesperson confirmed the provider is continuing its expansion efforts and "building on our mission to connect more people to fast, reliable internet in Google Fiber cities across the country. Google Fiber construction teams are actively working to build out our networks in each one of our existing Fiber cities, and we're expanding to new neighboring communities in some of those cities." Google Fiber's 8Gbps plan certainly makes it one of the fastest internet providers, although not the absolute fastest you may find. Ziply Fiber has a ridiculously fast 50Gbps plan, and smaller, local providers may offer 20Gbps or faster in select areas. Google Fiber offers the fastest entry-level plan of any major provider. While many fiber-optic ISPs have plans starting at speeds of 200Mbps, 300Mbps or lower, Google Fiber's "slowest" plan offers symmetrical speeds of up to 1,000Mbps. Considering recent growth in existing and new markets, there's no indication that Google Fiber is going anywhere anytime soon, other than into new households and cities. The release of two new 5Gbps and 8Gpbs plans further indicates that Google Fiber is intent on not only expanding its coverage areas but also its plan selection and speed offerings.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The GFiber App just got even better — GFiber rolls out redesigned app to enhance customer experience
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., May 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Google Fiber (GFiber) is always looking for ways to make fast, reliable internet even easier to use, which is why it's thrilled to announce a redesigned GFiber App — to simplify how customers set up service, manage devices, and keep tabs on their network. The latest version is now live, and customers can download or update the app to get has updated the user interface for a more intuitive experience that clearly reflects the company's commitment to simplicity and reliability. It has also introduced several new features, such as: greater visibility into home network performance, smarter device management, enhanced troubleshooting, and chat, content and video call support for app's redesign was shaped by customer feedback from user research and usability studies, which focused on making it easier, more intuitive, and delightful to use. Redesigned for a smarter experienceThe updated GFiber App has a fresh look and feel — one that better reflects the brand and makes everyday tasks simpler. Based on customer feedback, the app has added new features like video support, enhanced troubleshooting, and more visibility into network performance. Streamlined navigation: A cleaner layout makes it easy to find what customers need. Smarter tools: Run speed tests, manage devices, and get help with just a few taps. Helpful insights: Diagnostic tools and support options are more intuitive and actionable. Bringing key features front and center The redesigned app also makes it easier to find and access some of the most impactful features introduced over the past year. These tools not only improve internet performance but also provide greater transparency and control. From sign-up to serviceThe GFiber App acts as a companion for a smooth setup experience right from day one. For in-home installs, technicians can help set up the app to optimize network performance. For customers who self-install, the app provides step-by-step guidance through every stage of the process — making setup simple and reliable, no matter how they get online. Technician TrackerOnce the technician is en route, customers can see the location and ETA, making service appointments more predictable. Network HealthCustomers using supported GFiber routers can now access the Network Health feature, which provides a real-time assessment of speed, coverage, and overall performance. They'll also get actionable recommendations for optimizing their connection. TechSeeLive video support gives customers the option to allow GFiber's customer support agents see connection issues in real-time and provide troubleshooting help without an in-person visit. Speed TestThe app now provides more details about one's connection, distinguishing between: Speed to one's home (wired test): Measures the speed from the GFiber network to the router (available on select devices). Speed to one's device (wireless test): Measures the speed from one's router to the phone. With these two tests, customers can see not just how fast GFiber's connection is, but also how their Wi-Fi network is performing – helping them optimize for the best experience. Device ManagementFor customers with a GFiber Wi-Fi 6E router — included with all new GFiber lifestyle products (Core, Home, and Edge) — the GFiber App provides a clear view of network activity and options to personalize settings, giving them greater control over how they use their internet. See what's connected: Check which devices are using the internet and view their Wi-Fi signal strength in real-time. Custom naming and grouping: Devices can be organized easily by what's important to the customer (like kids' devices or type of device). Pause schedules and access controls: Internet access can be scheduled or paused for individual devices or groups of devices as needed. Stronger security: Unknown devices can be easily blocked. And this is just the beginning! The GFiber App is the heart of its approach to make internet management simple and seamless for customers, and GFiber will continue investing in ways to improve and evolve that experience. Posted by Sanjay Chatterjee, Head of Digital Media inquiries: fiber-pr@ Photos accompanying this announcement are available at in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Here are the top 5 internet service providers based on speed
(NewsNation) — Choosing an internet service provider can be difficult, as can understanding the various speed options. Internet speeds are measured in megabits per second. The higher the number of megabits your internet plan has, the faster it will be. For example, a 600 Mbps internet plan will be faster than a 200 Mbps plan. In 2024, the Federal Communications Commission released its report on broadband affordability, adoption, availability and access. In the report, the agency raised its benchmark for what is considered high-speed fixed broadband internet to: Download speeds of 100 Mbps Upload speeds of 20 Mbps This is an increase from the 25 Mbps download speed and 3 Mbps upload speed the Commission set in 2015. However, fast speeds for one household could be different from those for another. If you have many devices in your home that need an internet connection, 200 Mbps may not be enough for you. However, if you only have a few devices in your home, a 200 Mbps plan might be enough. Amazon launches its first internet satellites to compete against SpaceX's Starlinks According to the average internet speed in 2024 was 214 Mbps, which is 9% higher than in 2023. However, from 2022 to 2023, speeds increased by 24%. Here are the five fastest internet service providers based on analysis. Cox is at the bottom of list, with average speeds of 242 Mbps. This is still above the average internet speed of 214 Mbps for 2024. Xfinity came in right after Cox, with average speeds of 246 Mbps. Verizon came in third on analysis, averaging 253 Mbps. Google Fiber showed an average speed of 279 Mbps in analysis. Tips on how to get the fastest internet speed According to Google Fiber can show how fiber internet is performing because it doesn't have any DSL connections to bring down its average speeds. Google Fiber's speeds have reportedly shown that fiber has an advantage over cable internet when it comes to the rate of improvement. Brightspeed is reportedly the fastest ISP in the country as of 2025. The company's plans have an average speed of 290 Mbps across all internet types. Brightspeed offers basic DSL internet as well as fiber internet, which said could be even faster than the 290 Mbps. According to CNET, the first thing you should do is figure out what internet speed your family needs. If you don't need a plan with 800 Mbps, you could save money by choosing a plan with lower speeds. US employers added 177,000 jobs in April as job market shows resilience Here are other tips for choosing an ISP: Look for ISPs with no contracts and promotional rates: It's best to choose an ISP that doesn't make you lock into a 12- or 24-month contract. This way, if you ever want to adjust your speeds, you can do so without being penalized. You can also find a plan with a promotional rate attached for a certain period of time. Choose a slower-speed plan first: Until you know exactly what you need, it's best to start with a lower-cost, lower-speed plan. And if the plan doesn't come with a time-based contract, you can adjust as needed. Choose good equipment: It's best to choose a router that is compatible with your plan. Typically, an internet service provider will have equipment for sale at its retail store. You will also need to consider whether you want a mesh router or Wi-Fi extenders. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
