Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Visible signs left after Google Fiber abandons Louisville

gizmodo.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

31–40 of 190 posts

Re: Visible signs left after Google Fiber abandons Louisville

#31

Post by anonymous5133 »

yingw787 wrote: post #25

When I interned at AT&T a few years ago, I asked a manager I respected whether they were worried about Google Fiber coming in and eating their lunch. "No", he said. "We'll sue them for every mile of fiber they lay down". I can understand why they would make that play. It's kind of the only play they have. AT&T and Verizon innovate enough to remain...okay...but they're not exactly Google. The only way they would win i…

It did have a positive impact though because AT&T and Verizon started actually building out their fiber networks more aggressively when they saw google entering the space. I live in Orange County, CA and AT&T out here started building out fiber when they saw Google building in Irvine, CA. AT&T knows that if they could just "rope off" google to a small area then their initial investment wouldn't really be worth it.

Re: Visible signs left after Google Fiber abandons Louisville

#32

Post by drenvuk »

AareyBaba wrote: post #27
vb6lives wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They tried to lay fiber in 2in trenches instead of typical 6in trenches. Then left when it didn't work. This isn't Goliath beating David. This is David throwing a rock, missing, and going home.

Is there any technical analysis or reports available online on why the trenches didn't work ? I've always wondered if we could use our network of roads to bring internet to the doorstep by laying lines just below the road surface.

You don't need much technical analysis here. Shallow trenches break more easily, leading to higher maintenance costs. 2 inches is nothing.

Re: Visible signs left after Google Fiber abandons Louisville

#33

Post by LockNess0 »

gz5 wrote: post #21

Would it be surprising to see Google pivot to 5G for the tech solution? I believe their business goal is still to control the access. Anyone see a realistic unit cost analyis for 5G in urban environments at maturity? On the fiber side, I think cities need to build the infrastructure (and are often in a position to finance via low interest rate bonds etc), and then enable any party to lease/operate/compete on that inf…

The latter is pretty much the Swedish model, by the way.

It makes sense. Fibre optic cable is mostly a solved solution, just like copper wire for electricity and pipes for gas, water and sewage.

Re: Visible signs left after Google Fiber abandons Louisville

#34

Post by AaronFriel »

endofcapital wrote: post #2

"But Google Fiber got something out of its time here. It learned that nanotrenching—the cost-saving process of burying fiber optic cables just two inches underground—was a bust. “We currently do not have plans that call for 2 inch trenches, our primary specifications are focused on going deeper,” a Google Fiber spokesperson said in an email." It's so weird to just use cities as A/B tests and just disregard all the pe…

Isn't that what cities, states, and countries are in an abstract sense? They are randomized trials of different systems of law and government, and so on.

It's much messier when it's accidental, but ... wouldn't it be smart for say, new state propositions in California to be tested in a trial to verify they produce the consequence voters asked for?

Re: Visible signs left after Google Fiber abandons Louisville

#35

Post by spullara »

spullara wrote: post #14

Fiber is probably a dead end and will ultimately be replaced by 5G point-to-point transmission for the last mile.

Downvote all you want but this is why Verizon stopped rolling fiber out and why Google Fiber fails in most places. It doesn't make financial sense to hard wire every house with fiber when you can get higher speeds (20 Gps) over the air with the next generation of wireless technology. It will be cheaper to deploy and will have far broader reach.

Re: Visible signs left after Google Fiber abandons Louisville

#36

Post by quest88 »

Someone1234 wrote: post #28
quest88 wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is there any particular two inch trenches were dug? Was it too expensive? Extra permits?

They were copying a Germen technique (curb trenching) but trying to cut costs even further[0]. Google called it an experiment. [0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wisrs03EkDM

Thanks!

Re: Visible signs left after Google Fiber abandons Louisville

#37

Post by yingw787 »

yingw787 wrote: post #25

When I interned at AT&T a few years ago, I asked a manager I respected whether they were worried about Google Fiber coming in and eating their lunch. "No", he said. "We'll sue them for every mile of fiber they lay down". I can understand why they would make that play. It's kind of the only play they have. AT&T and Verizon innovate enough to remain...okay...but they're not exactly Google. The only way they would win i…

I do think the significance of this is cities realizing there is no Disney prince riding in on a white horse to save them, and taking their own futures into their own hands. I'm hoping there's enough "anchor cities/regions", like Nashville/RTP/Kansas City, that have contingency plans and referendums ready for an infrastructure push at the local level if Fiber pulls out there, to prevent all white-collar talent from drifting towards the coasts and leave a complete vacuum everywhere else. It'll take a lot of organization, money, guile, and community trust to push through ISP brainwashing, but the cities that succeed will hopefully become the few "shining cities on a hill" that could save an entire state from economic irrelevance. Hopefully, when the pendulum swings the other way on urban centralization, they'll emerge as good alternatives to raise children, work remotely, and live a good life.

Re: Visible signs left after Google Fiber abandons Louisville

#39

Post by Someone1234 »

spullara wrote: post #14

Fiber is probably a dead end and will ultimately be replaced by 5G point-to-point transmission for the last mile.

Fiber offers better reliability, lower latency, higher bandwidth (right now), and it can be reused for even higher bandwidth later (e.g. 1 Gbps fiber can handle 10 Gbps with new transceivers on the same run).

Re: Visible signs left after Google Fiber abandons Louisville

#40

Post by paxys »

vb6lives wrote: post #11
paxys wrote: post #6

The failure of Google Fiber paints a very bleak picture of the future of internet infrastructure, or even all communication in this country. If Google cannot compete with the status quo, who can?

They tried to lay fiber in 2in trenches instead of typical 6in trenches. Then left when it didn't work. This isn't Goliath beating David. This is David throwing a rock, missing, and going home.

They aren't exactly dominating in markets outside Louisville either.
Post reply on HN