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Can't say I'm surprised. I expect Google fi to have a similar fate in a few years. It's not Google business.
Project Fi doesn't involve nearly the amount of staff though--they're using someone else's network. As Google has found out, digging holes and getting permits doesn't get cheaper with better software.
The municipalities own (most of) the networks and all the fiber cables, letting companies use them for a small(ish) fee. These companies later sell it to customers. This help people to get the best deals and ensure that the networks are continually upgraded.
For example, I have 250/100 mbit/s for free. My rent pays for this. But I could if I wanted to easily upgrade to 1gbit/s up and down. I can change ISP (even if that wouldn't be paid for by my rent) and I would know that I always could get the same internet-connectivity speeds.
Although, while this is true for many parts of Sweden, it's not available for everyone. Some places still have networks owned by one company without any access to the city network.
Alternatively, one can look at this not as a failure, but as a success. The point of Google fiber was to force carriers to get faster internet to everyone. It appears that it has been working. This benefits google directly as their properties such as Youtube can deliver more and better content.
For Google, this is a win/win proposition.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Project Fi doesn't involve nearly the amount of staff though--they're using someone else's network. As Google has found out, digging holes and getting permits doesn't get cheaper with better software.
I have no idea what the economics are but I imagine the carriers they're piggybacking off of could charge higher fees for MVNOing if Fi were to get to a certain scale.
Google also seems to just give up on a lot of its products: Google+ Hangouts Project Ara Google Buzz Google video Orkut Talk Meebo etc.
http://www.lemonde.fr/pixels/visuel/2015/03/06/google-memori...
Just as expected. It was just to force the network carriers to speed up wasn't it?
That sucks for citizens of the US. I think the Swedish (Nordic?) model for bringing internet connectivity to it's citizens is superior. The municipalities own (most of) the networks and all the fiber cables, letting companies use them for a small(ish) fee. These companies later sell it to customers. This help people to get the best deals and ensure that the networks are continually upgraded. For example, I have 250/1…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Project Fi doesn't involve nearly the amount of staff though--they're using someone else's network. As Google has found out, digging holes and getting permits doesn't get cheaper with better software.
I have no idea what the economics are but I imagine the carriers they're piggybacking off of could charge higher fees for MVNOing if Fi were to get to a certain scale.
Disclaimer: I'm a Project Fi subscriber for the last half year or so.