Provo New Home to Google Fiber

by Joel Carson
President/Principal Broker
Utah Real Estate
SLBR 2012 'Salesperson of the Year'

Utah has done a fantastic job keeping up with technology. Major tech companies are finding their way to the Wasatch Front with lightning speed – especially Google Fiber, a company offering high-speed Internet service through fiber-optic cables.

Google Fiber lifted a huge burden off city officials when it agreed to take over a trouble-laden system originally built by the municipality. Google will repair, upgrade and expand the existing system. The end result will be service currently available in two other metro areas in the country, Kansas City and Austin Texas. 

'Once connected, Provo will be one of the first cities in the world where access to broadband will flow like water or electricity,' Kevin Lo, general manager of Google Fiber said according to an April 18 Associated Press report. 

Google is expected to charge Provo customers a $30 activation fee. The free service offered will provide speeds of 5 megabits per second. Fees for faster service – up to 200 times faster – are not yet available. Schools, hospitals and libraries will receive faster service free. The system will also offer cable or satellite TV service.

Google will spend at least $18 billion to upgrade the existing service and expand it in Provo, located 45 miles south of Salt Lake City. The municipal system is connected to only 9,000 of 35,000 Provo homes now. 

The implications of this development are monumental for the Utah Valley. Google Fiber is raising the bar for other service providers throughout Utah. The network will be a major factor in attracting businesses of all kinds (particularly high-tech businesses) to the Wasatch Front. Institutions of higher learning will be primed for new technology programs other schools may not be able to accommodate.

Provo competed with thousands of other cities for Google’s services, and I guarantee you this was not an easy win.

Associated Press’ April 18 report said, “The Provo deal is the first time Google plans to acquire an existing fiber-optic system. The city of 115,000 created the fiber-optic network, iProvo, in 2004. It planned to operate the system itself for Internet, television and phone service but found the operation too daunting and turned it over to a succession of private partners that have struggled to break even.”

Ultimately, Google’s could impact property values in Provo. If you have considered purchasing a Provo home, contact me today. It’s a great time to invest in a place with a bright future. Call or text me at 801-673-3333. Send an email to 801-673-3333. Browse a detailed list of Provo homes for sale anytime online at www.allutahhomes.com.