Uncapped broadband: Google versus Telkom

Google has recently unveiled their first commercial broadband services, offering consumers gigabit fibre connections for $70 per month (R579 at $1 = R8.27). There is also a free 5Mbps service available to consumers who do not feel like forking out money.

Google unveiled its ultra-high speed Google Fiber service in Kansas City, Missouri, and could start installations in September. Google hopes to roll out the service to other cities later.

“Access is the next frontier that needs to be opened,” Google Chief Financial Officer Patrick Pichette said. “We’re going to do it profitably. That is our plan.”

Google’s services and pricing may set the new global benchmark for Internet services, and it is instructional to compare local broadband access to Google’s Fibre offerings.

Google Fibre

Google has launched three fibre services aimed at different portions of the market: Free Internet, Gigabit Internet and Gigabit + TV.

• Free Internet (free): 5Mbps download speed, 1Mbps upload speed, no data caps, free service guaranteed for at least 7 years
• Gigabit Internet ($70 per month): 1Gbps download speed, 1Gbps upload speed, no data caps, 1TB Google Drive
• Gigabit + TV ($120 per month): 1Gbps download speed, 1Gbps upload speed, no data caps, full channel TV lineup, Nexus 7 tablet, TV Box, Storage Box, Network Box, 1TB Google Drive

Google Gigabit Internet

Google versus Telkom

Although South Africa and the United States are vastly different countries with different population demographics and different geographic challenges, it is still instructional to compare local services with Google’s new broadband products.

The following table provides a basic comparison of Google’s Fibre offerings and Telkom’s current ADSL products.

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