This infrastructure announcement might seem routine to you, but it’s actually a brilliant strategy that could substantially change how America builds internet infrastructure.
Google’s doing more than just laying fiber, they’re linking to current city projects. When Tempe repaves roads, Google installs fiber at the same time. This is genius for multiple reasons.
Firstly, it’s highly cost effective. Digging up streets is the most expensive part of fiber installation. Fiber optic construction typically costs $60,000 to $80,000 per mile, with labor costs accounting for up to 60% of overall project costs. By coordinating with road work that’s already planned, Google cuts construction costs noticeably. Instead of paying to tear up perfectly good pavement, they’re installing fiber when the streets are already torn up anyway.
Second, it minimizes community disruption. Nobody likes construction crews blocking their street for months but if the road is already getting repaved, adding fiber installation doesn’t cause additional inconvenience for residents. They’re gonna be disturbed for relatively the same amount of time, just with better results.
If you think about it, this approach could actually solve America’s broadband infrastructure problem. For years, fiber rollouts have been slow and expensive because of construction costs and community resistance. Google’s model touches both issues simultaneously.
Additionally, the timing in Arizona is commendable. The state is experiencing massive population growth, particularly in tech friendly cities like Tempe. Google is getting ahead of demand instead of playing trailing behind the first benchers. They’re building infrastructure for communities that will need it and not just for areas that already do have it.
The pricing structure ($70 to $150 for residential multi-gigabit service) is competitive if you compare it to traditional cable providers. This puts pressure on Comcast, Cox and other occupants to either lower prices or upgrade their networks.
The notable innovation here is the coordination model. If other cities adopt similar approaches where they bundle fiber installation with routine infrastructure maintenance, we could see broadband deployment become super fast nationwide. Moreover, instead of fiber being a separate and more disruptive project, it becomes part of regular city planning.
This discreet expansion in Tempe might be exactly how America finally gets the fiber infrastructure it needs. Smart coordination beats an impulsive mindset every time.
“Construction for nearly 85,000 linear feet of fiber, coordinated with the city’s road repaving projects, is underway in Tempe’s Warner Ranch Neighborhood, the city said. Google pledged it will ‘work closely with the city and county to minimize disruption to residents.'”