New Google Fiber kiosk highlights expansion across Triangle communities

New Google Fiber kiosk highlights expansion across Triangle communities

Writer: Joshua Andino

2 min read April 2023 — Google Fiber’s new retail kiosk at Raleigh’s Crabtree Mall highlights ongoing expansion plans throughout the region. 

The retail kiosk, announced yesterday, will allow new and existing customers to sign up or upgrade their service, optimize their home networks, troubleshoot issues or update themselves on what the latest offerings from Google Fiber are. 

The move is the latest in the high-speed internet service provider’s expansion into the region. Last month, the company announced that it would expand its fiber optic network in and around Hillsborough to provide local businesses and residents with gigabit internet access. The installation is likely to begin later this month, and makes Hillsborough the third Triangle town to receive the service over the course of the last year. 

“The community really needs to just prepare ourselves for a lot of disruptions,” Mayor Jenn Weaver said in a statement to the News & Observer. She added, “There’s going to be hiccups. This is what we’ve seen from our neighboring communities that have gone through this. We just need to tough it out, and it will be worth it on the other side we hope”

High-speed internet has become a staple to both residential living and commercial activity in the 21st century. The shift to work-from-home and remote work models brought about by the pandemic only further accelerated the need for internet access across the country, with many providers looking to fill the gaps and take advantage of rural broadband initiatives within the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed last year, with North Carolina no exception.

For Google Fiber, the Hillsborough construction comes after some rapid progress has been made across the region, according to Jess George, head of government and community affairs for Google Fiber’s East region – even if it took some time to get right

“We had a lot to learn about how to construct fiber optic networks in multiple municipalities,” said George. When the program initially began in 2015, local residents across the Triangle noted clumsy construction mistakes, including cracked driveways and shut-off water supplies. 

George said, “In the past year, we’ve launched construction in Garner and Apex, and Hillsborough just announced.” He added,“We’ve continued to construct in Raleigh and Durham and have largely completed Morrisville, Cary, Chapel Hill and Carrboro.”

The region is increasingly competitive for broadband and fiber optic connectivity as a result of high-profile moves, related tech-enabled industry growth and strong local talent. In a separate conversation with Invest:, Kevin Hart, CEO of Segra, one of the country’s largest independent fiber bandwidth companies, explained,“We also have a very talented and educated workforce in the Triangle region. I believe that Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and many others are increasing their footprint in the area. It is going to continue to grow. All of these businesses and entities need great connectivity, cybersecurity and cloud enablement.” 

Construction is expected to take about a year to complete, weather permitting. Residents should note that contractors are not required to coordinate their work, and companies’ work may overlap according to the Town of Hillsborough’s frequently asked questions.

For more information, please visit:

https://www.hillsboroughnc.gov/ 

https://fiber.google.com/z/ 

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