Google Fiber slows roll-out to consider wireless alternative

Google has put plans to roll  out fibre in parts of California on hold while it looks at wireless alternatives, according to a report from the San Jose Mercury News. Nearly three months ago San Jose city officials approved a major construction plan to bring Google Fiber to the city. Mountain View and Palo Alto, California also were working with Google to get fibre internet service, but said that the company told them the project has been delayed. 

The company was set to begin digging in San Jose last month, but nearly 100 employees hired to install Google Fiber were told the project was being delayed, according to workers. They were offered a transfer to San Diego to work on an unrelated project. Google told workers that it was going to re-evaluate the project and consider "going aerial", rather than digging cable trenches for the fibre. This could mean adopting the approach of recently acquired Webpass, which involves sending aerial data between transmitters installed on top of buildings. 

Google Fiber is already up and running in seven other major cities, outside California, but a source familiar with the project told the paper that the company is putting additional fibre locations on hold in order to reassess the technology and explore the cheaper, wireless alternative. The source said Google is now focusing more on aerial installation.