Google Fiber 'looking at UK market'

Google Fiber 'looking at UK market'

Google is reportedly looking to bring its Google Fiber high speed internet network to the UK, in what would be the division’s first foray outside the US.

The Daily Telegraph reports that the search engine giant spoke to a UK company about a possible link up, but the talks faltered due to the UK business’ links with other broadband providers and fears that working with Google may jeopardise them.

However, it is understood this is not the end of US corporation’s interest in the UK as a possible location.

A source told the paper: “Google historically have always publicly said they would never build fibre outside the US. But in the background they are talking to people here in the UK and looking at projects. It makes sense; Britain is their biggest market outside the US."

Google Fiber is rapidly rolling out its infrastructure in the US. Starting with linking up four cities to the fibre optic network, it is now planning to bring the service to 34 more. The Google service uses fibre optic throughout the whole internet connection, allowing superfast speeds of 1,000Mbps to be reached.

The speed is far in excess of the current maximum provided through the UK’s BT network, which reaches around 76Mbps in most places. The high speeds offered by Google Fiber mean that users can view high definition TV and the company is aiming to introduce video technology which is four times as sharp.

In the UK, a link-up between TalkTalk and BSkyB in York is aiming to emulate the speeds offered by Google Fiber. The companies are also looking to bring the CityFibre network to other cities where there is already a central fibre infrastructure that can be taken into commercial and domestic premises.

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