We’ve gone from dial-up to broadband to fiber. And with the latter jump, it seems like the speed gains will never stop. Gigabit internet once seemed like a distant future, but it’s a reality today, and one that’s offered by many ISPs around the world. But speeds beyond 1 Gig are still uncommon. Some have it, but not everyone. In the case of Google Fiber, it’s going all out, as the company has just announced generally available 20 Gig internet. Yes, twenty. You’ve read that right.
“Fiber Labs,” Google’s recently unveiled initiative to bring internet innovation to your home faster, has announced the launch of residential 20 Gigabit internet coupled with Wi-Fi 7 routers, a groundbreaking development that surpasses existing norms in internet speed. The company currently offers speeds up to 8 Gigs in select locations, so if the company manages to launch 20 Gig service, it will be more than doubling the top speeds it currently offers.
To achieve this, Google Fiber Labs will deploy Nokia’s 25G PON technology, enabling speeds that break the previous 10 gigabit barrier without extensive changes to existing fiber networks. It will also integrate a custom pre-certification Wi-Fi 7 router. Wi-Fi 7 is still not officially out yet, despite the fact that it seems to be making headlines every other week, but it’s the only technology that will let you take advantage of internet speeds this insane over a wireless connection.
While we’re lacking specific details about the offering, Google Fiber Labs plans to introduce it as an early access option for a select group of customers in specific areas. Interested individuals can sign up on the GFiber Labs website for a chance to receive an early access invitation. Google Fiber’s general availability for its higher 5 Gig and 8 Gig plans is already pretty spotty, and while Google is working hard to expand it, it also means that you shouldn’t expect this new insane 20 Gig tier to be available everywhere on day one. In fact, there’s a high chance that it won’t be available for you.
Still, if you want to check it out, there’s no reason not to.
Source: Google
