02.13
I’m sure by now you’ve heard about Google’s project to build its own fiber-optic network to provide Gigabit Internet speeds to select communities (serving 50,000 to 500,000 customers).
At roughly 100x the speed of even the fastest residential broadband available today, 1Gbps (1000Mbps) is obviously overkill for current Internet applications which are optimized for lower bandwidth. As such, Google is saying the purpose of this project is to “experiment and learn” – but I can’t help but think they have a more specific goal in mind.
AdWords is the bread and butter of Google’s business, at least from a revenue perspective. Google search, Gmail, etc. bring in the visitors, but it is AdWords that generates the cash.
Well, what most people don’t know is that Google also has something called AdWords for TV. This allows existing AdWords advertisers to also get their Ads on TV.
However, unlike regular AdWords, Google does not control the “content network” with AdWords for TV. AdWords for TV ads are only shown on the limited amount of Satellite and Cable providers that Google has deals with.
Thus, if you are Google, the logical next step would be to build your own TV network from the ground up, i.e., to do TV the “Google Way”, complete with Google Search for TV. Of course all the channels would be HD. Oh, and you could watch an unlimited number of HD movies whenever you wanted. What would this type of service cost? Nothing, because there would be the little AdWords ads across the bottom of the screen. You pay a nominal fee ($30/month) for the really fat data pipe (1Gbps), and everything else rides on top of it, including your TV.
Obviously this is a total guess, but what else could Google need 1000Mbps for?
Have ideas for what you think Google will be testing with Gigabit to the home ? Please post them here.
