One week after announcing plans to expand its 1 gigabit Internet service to Austin, Google said today that its third Google Fiber city will be Provo, Utah.
To make that a reality, Google will buy iProvo, a city-owned fiber-optic network. The deal still has to be approved by the city council, however, which is scheduled to vote on the issue on April 23.
If things move forward, Google will upgrade iProvo to gigabit technology and finish network construction, so the 115,000 residents along the existing iProvo network can tap into Google Fiber.
Like in Kansas City, the first place Google Fiber rolled out, Google will offer its standalone gigabit Internet service or gigabit Internet plus TV for a monthly fee. Residents can also access Google Fiber's free 5 Mbps Internet service for seven years for a one-time $30 activation fee, which is much lower than the $300 charged in Kansas City.
Google will also hook up free gigabit Internet in 25 local institutions, like schools, hospitals, and libraries.
Google hopes to start rolling out Google Fiber in Provo by year's end. Service is expected in Austin next year.
In a blog post, Google Fiber's general manager, Kevin Lo, said Provo makes sense given its growing startup community and patent activity. "We believe the future of the Internet will be built on gigabit speeds, and we're sure the businesses and residents of Provo already have some good ideas for what they'd build with a gig," he wrote.
The iProvo network, meanwhile, dates back to 2004. Over the years, however, it has exchanged hands several times and has struggled to break even. In a separate blog post today, Provo Mayor John Curtis called iProvo "troubled" and said it has been a "personal goal" to find a viable solution for iProvo.
"Unfortunately, while we've had the desire, we haven't had the technical know-how to operate a viable high-speed fiber optic network for Provo residents," Curtis wrote. "So, as early as 18 months ago, I started looking for a private buyer for the iProvo network."
Prior to the city council vote, meanwhile, Curtis and Google execs will host six meetings across the city to talk to residents about the move; more details are on Curtis's blog.