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Think big with a gig: Our experimental fiber network

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Re: Think big with a gig: Our experimental fiber network

#31

Post by pavs »

timdorr wrote: post #24

This may be paranoia, but I'm actually worried about this much bandwidth being the hands of ordinary people. My reasoning: super-botnets. This has the potential to very easily create a several 100Gbit DDOS network, which is essentially unstoppable. I understand the need and potential for high speed networks, but I think gigabit might be taking it a bit too far. It's a "with great power comes great responsibility" sor…

If I am not wrong, this kind of speed already exists for few years in some parts of the world. S.Korea, Japan and England comes to my mind.

Re: Think big with a gig: Our experimental fiber network

#33

Post by brk »

imgabe wrote: post #23

Or downloading a high-definition, full-length feature film in less than five minutes. Did you hear that? It sounded as if millions of hollywood executives suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced...

Why? They still control the content and the licensing. I don't think they really care about the carrier media (DVD or packets), they care about extracting every last possible dime from the consumer for the content.

If the content can be distributed AND billed effectively over this pipe, then it's fine. If the content can NOT be billed appropriately, it simply won't be licensed for this distribution channel.

Re: Think big with a gig: Our experimental fiber network

#34

Post by clistctrl »

jsz0 wrote: post #27

I think Google would be better off partnering with existing service providers for this project. It's a hugely complex process to start from scratch. Getting the pole rights alone to build infrastructure is going to take them years. In some area's within the span of a mile you might pass poles owned by half a dozen different entities. Most of them owned by incumbent Internet service providers who will tell you the pol…

This is very true, but google also has a vast amount of resources, and some of the smartest and technologically literate people in the world working for them. Its entirely possible that they have an army of robots or some game changing technology to do things differently from the norm.

Re: Think big with a gig: Our experimental fiber network

#35

Post by imgabe »

brk wrote: post #33
imgabe wrote: post #23

Or downloading a high-definition, full-length feature film in less than five minutes. Did you hear that? It sounded as if millions of hollywood executives suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced...

Why? They still control the content and the licensing. I don't think they really care about the carrier media (DVD or packets), they care about extracting every last possible dime from the consumer for the content. If the content can be distributed AND billed effectively over this pipe, then it's fine. If the content can NOT be billed appropriately, it simply won't be licensed for this distribution channel.

I think their concern is that it will be distributed over this channel whether it's licensed for it or not.

Re: Think big with a gig: Our experimental fiber network

#36

Post by joezydeco »

thrdOriginal wrote: post #28
joezydeco wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not just NY. It's a lot of places. Many towns have locked down franchise agreements for telephone and cable tv "utilities" just like they do for water or power. If Google admits they're going to deliver advanced Google Voice or YouTube services over these lines, that's infringing on these agreements and the towns face lawsuits from the legacy carriers. You can't just hop on poles and start stringing wires all ov…

But I highly doubt Google is planning on offering "Cable Video." In the same way that VOIP is differentiated from Voice Service according to the FCC, offering IPTV does not require a Service Provider to register as a Cable Franchise. VOIP & IPTV are seen as "applications," not a native service type.

Google's own press release suggests they're looking for new ways to use ultra-highspeed broadband:

Or downloading a high-definition, full-length feature film in less than five minutes. Or collaborating with classmates around the world while watching live 3-D video of university lecture.

Now look at how Geneva, Illinois fought off AT&T U-Verse (called "Project Lightspeed" in the experimental phase) because they already had television franchise agreements in place and didn't want to get sued by the cable company:

http://www.geneva.il.us/att/Lightspeed.htm

(Note, also, that Geneva tried to set up their own broadband network and was roadblocked by AT&T. Karma is a bitch.)

I'm not suggesting that Google is looking to offer cable TV. I'm just implying that you can't waltz into a town and offer these kinds of services without raising the hackles of the existing companies that are providing utility services in most typical towns.

A town might willingly invite Google with open arms, but that doesn't mean it's a done deal by a long shot. Expect lawsuits.

Re: Think big with a gig: Our experimental fiber network

#37

Post by aw3c2 »

swombat wrote: post #3

Time for the other so-called broadband providers to shake in their boots. I like companies that have no respect for established business models. In this perspective, despite its size, I think it's fair to call Google a start-up.

Isn't the poor coverage of decent internet connections a much bigger issue? Highspeed internet in urban areas might be cool but what about the rest of the country.

Re: Think big with a gig: Our experimental fiber network

#38

Post by icey »

swombat wrote: post #29
timdorr wrote: post #24

This may be paranoia, but I'm actually worried about this much bandwidth being the hands of ordinary people. My reasoning: super-botnets. This has the potential to very easily create a several 100Gbit DDOS network, which is essentially unstoppable. I understand the need and potential for high speed networks, but I think gigabit might be taking it a bit too far. It's a "with great power comes great responsibility" sor…

Don't most South Korean already have fiber to the home? The internet hasn't melted down yet.

I've never looked into it, or even thought about it until now, but I wonder what virus / bot infection rates look like in non-English speaking countries.

Most infections seem to result from an automatically created subject line in English... I'm sure there are viruses created specifically in other languages, but are they as successful?

Re: Think big with a gig: Our experimental fiber network

#39

Post by bad_user »

hypermatt wrote: post #4
swombat wrote: post #3

Time for the other so-called broadband providers to shake in their boots. I like companies that have no respect for established business models. In this perspective, despite its size, I think it's fair to call Google a start-up.

I think this is more around trying to force the broadband providers to get their act together. Scare them ;0)

The way Google throws products on the market to increase competition for the benefit of its core products ... it's genius.

Are there any other companies that do this?

Re: Think big with a gig: Our experimental fiber network

#40

Post by wmf »

jsz0 wrote: post #27

I think Google would be better off partnering with existing service providers for this project. It's a hugely complex process to start from scratch. Getting the pole rights alone to build infrastructure is going to take them years. In some area's within the span of a mile you might pass poles owned by half a dozen different entities. Most of them owned by incumbent Internet service providers who will tell you the pol…

Since it's a pilot project, Google can simply choose to install it in places that are easy to install. Of course, the results won't be representative.
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