Google Fiber launches in Huntsville, Alabama

Google has rolled out its Google Fiber broadband initiative to Huntsville, Alabama, after leasing part of the municipal fiber network built by Huntsville Utilities.

As of this week, residents and small business owners in North Huntsville can sign up for Google Fiber’s superfast Internet, TV and phone service.

Google’s head of business operations for Huntsville, Caroline de Gantes, said that Google Fiber is leasing part of Huntsville Utilities’ network on a non-exclusive basis, allowing other providers to lease fibre from the city as well.

“Across the country, there continues to be incredible demand for gigabit internet. While we continue the process of building Google Fiber networks in cities like Kansas City, Austin, Nashville, and others, we’re always looking to new approaches to get people connected,” said Gantes.

“Leasing the infrastructure in Huntsville rather than building from scratch allows us to bring Google Fiber to even more people, and even faster.”

Last October Google said that work would continue in its existing Google Fiber footprint – in the cities where it has launched or its fibre rollout is under construction. However, it said it will not now roll out fibre internet in most of its ‘potential Fiber cities’ and will cut staff in these markets, as part of a change in strategy.