Google Fiber-owned Webpass is installing its first wireless symmetric gigabit Internet service in Seattle, management announced. The gigabit fixed wireless roll out, being carried out at a 40-story, 146-unit luxury condominium tower across from the world famous Pike Place Market, will mark the seventh market in which Webpass provides connectivity.
Residents of the luxury condo in Seattle will be charged $60 a month with no contracts for Webpass connectivity, which will deliver data, communications, and content at 1 Gbps symmetrically – both for uploads and downloads, Webpass highlights.
Webpass Gigabit Fixed Wireless
Google Fiber gained access to gigabit fixed wireless capabilities and assets in six U.S. markets upon acquiring Webpass in June 2016. The acquisition marked the start of what has evolved into what appears to be a dramatic change in strategic direction for the Alphabet and Access subsidiary.
The first substantive evidence arose early last October upon the deal’s closing. At the time, Google Fiber management said Webpass would continue to operate as an autonomous subsidiary company, but Google Fiber would integrate Webpass’s gigabit wireless solutions into a hybrid, fiber-wireless approach in expanding its gigabit broadband networks and services.
Google Fiber included their gigabit fixed wireless capable markets on the official Google Fiber Map for the first time at the end of January. As of then, Webpass offered fixed wireless services at 100 Mbps, 200 Mbps, 500 Mbps and 1 Gpbs tiers in Boston, Chicago, Miami, Oakland, San Diego, and San Francisco.
The Webpass residential condo roll out in Seattle marks the company’s entrance into its seventh major metro market. Prices start at $60 per month in all markets.
Google Fiber’s Webpass integration not only heralded a major turning point for Google Fiber, but one that has spread quickly industry wide, to the chagrin of some of those who had been working on the fiber side of Google Fiber’s business.
Late last October, Google Fiber execs announced they were calling a temporary halt to the company’s gigabit fiber expansion and would lay-off about nine percent of its workforce.
“Now, just as any competitive business must, we have to continue not only to grow, but also stay ahead of the curve — pushing the boundaries of technology, business, and policy — to remain a leader in delivering superfast Internet,” Alphabet SVP and Access CEO Craig Barrat elaborated at the time. “We have refined our plan going forward to achieve these objectives.”
Other ISPs have followed suit. More specifically, the nation’s telco-ISPs are stepping up plans and efforts to capitalize on next-gen 5G LTE technology and networks as they seek to expand their gigabit networks and services.
