So now Google and rival AT&T are vying to bring stunningly fast Internet connections to homes in at least some parts of metro Atlanta. But why would you want or need speed that’s 100 times faster than most Americans get?
We asked Ron Hutchins, the chief technology officer for the mac-daddy of techness, Georgia Tech, which already is chock full of the so-called gigabit-per-second speeds.
Google announced recently that it intends to provide the residential Internet service (and TV connections) inside the city limits of Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, College Park, Decatur, East Point, Hapeville, Sandy Springs and Smyrna. AT&T also has said that it will bring the speeds to homes in the cities of Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Decatur and Newnan and is considering adding other local cities. Neither has said when it will be available.
Here’s what Hutchins said metro Atlantans might do more easily with the gig:
- Launch a business from home. "There is a huge entrepreneurial boost that could happen for those neighborhoods," he said. "When we put gigabit in dormitories we had students become very entrepreneurial and start to run business in the dormitories."
- Say goodbye to buffering and getting cut off in the middle of streaming shows and movies. "It will make it easier to do Hulu, Amazon Prime…. Streaming high def videos is much much better with a gigabit service."
- Collaborate in cool ways. One example: with such fast speeds musicians in different parts of town could almost simultaneously play and create music together online.
- Get care or lessons remotely. Widespread super-fast Internet speeds make it easier to have sharp, clear video connections that could help more doctors do minor check ins with elderly patients who might have trouble getting to medical offices. Music teachers could give seamless lessons online to students on the other side of town.
- Keep a lid on prices for fast local Internet and TV service. Competition from Google could help hold down prices, Hutchins said.
- More people in the same home can do lots of things online simultaneously without slowing each other down. No more taking turns streaming multiple movies, playing super vivid online games, uploading reams of data to work and crunching on a homework assignment. "It gives you the flexibility of doing things without having to plan ahead."
- Open doors in new ways. "People find new opportunities. They will leverage this to do things we haven't thought of before. I'm confident of that." Part of what allows that is the speed, capacity and, ultimately, pervasiveness of the service. But it's also about price, he said. When there is a flat fee for service, consumers will experiment more than if they were worried about added fees for exceeding data limits, Hutchins said.
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