Amidst the ongoing competition within the industry over 10-gigabit services, Google Fiber is setting its sights on a bolder goal. The company is planning to introduce a symmetrical 20-gigabit service for select residential and business customers by the end of this year. To make this endeavor possible, Google Fiber has turned to Nokia’s 25G-PON system.
According to Nick Saporito, head of product at Google Fiber, the 20-gigabit service has been undergoing trials in numerous markets for nearly a year. These trials have been conducted in various locations, including Kansas City University, the United Way in Utah, and Saporito’s own residence in Kansas City. Furthermore, additional residential trials are currently in the works.
When asked about the leap from their current 8-gig offering to 20-gigs, Saporito explained that they see a clear demand for it. However, he clarified that this offering is targeted at early adopters and will not be widely available like their 5-gig and 8-gig services. Instead, it will be invite-only, and the invitation process is still being determined. Those who choose this service will receive a pre-certification Wi-Fi 7 router developed by Google Fiber.
It’s important to note that Google Fiber’s forthcoming service will not be the fastest in the country, nor is Google Fiber the first to offer speeds above 10G. A local provider in Tennessee, EPB, launched a symmetrical 25-gig service in August 2022 using Nokia’s 25G technology.
Nonetheless, Google Fiber’s move is significant as they are one of the largest operators to make such a substantial leap. While Frontier Communications is working with Nokia on 25G trials, they have yet to announce plans for a commercial service beyond their current 5-gig offering.
Stefaan Vanhastel, VP of Innovation for Fixed Networks at Nokia, explained that Google Fiber is already using their XGS-PON equipment, based on the upgradable Quillion chipset. Thus, upgrading to 25G simply requires adding a new optical module and replacing the optical network terminal on the end-user side. Importantly, 25G uses different wavelengths compared to GPON and XGS-PON, enabling all three technologies to coexist on the same network.
What sets Google Fiber apart is its aim to serve both residential and enterprise users with 25-gig services, which is a relatively unique approach, especially when it comes to residential applications. Stefaan Vanhastel expressed his excitement about this approach, as it will be intriguing to see how multi-gigabit users leverage the service and explore new possibilities.
While specific markets for the initial release of Google Fiber’s 20-gig service have not been disclosed, it is anticipated that Kansas City will be among the first given its role in the trial locations. Nevertheless, Google Fiber envisions expanding this service to “most, if not all, of our markets” in due course.
