Two years after launching its fiber network in Kansas City, Google has begun rolling it out to local businesses.
The service will initially be available in several "fiberhoods" across the metro area, and will cost $100 per month.
"Kansas City's Internet service is now faster and more affordable than anywhere else in the nation," Ryan Weber, president of the Technology Council of Greater Kansas City (KCnext), said in a statement.
"Google Fiber's business service has the potential to disrupt the industry because of its low cost; typically, gigabit connectivity would cost upwards of $10,000 annually for a startup," Weber added.
In 2011, Kansas City beat 1,100 cities nationwide to become the first Google Fiber-friendly town. It's now known as the Kansas City Startup Village: an entrepreneur-led community focused on growing and supporting the local startup ecosystem—including EyeVerify, makers of a mobile biometric technology used to replace passwords.
"Everything we do is data driven, and as a result, affordable gigabit Internet speed is critical for small businesses like ours to grow," EyeVerify President Toby Rush said. "Super-fast Internet connections offered by Google Fiber are increasingly important now that we're utilizing multiple cloud-based services and remote networks simultaneously; operationally, it's as if the server is right next to me."
Google Fiber for Small Business is available for early access in select areas of Kansas City; not every company is eligible yet. Participating organizations get up to 1 gigabit upload and download speeds running through a network box, which promises high-performance Wi-Fi, gigabit routing, firewall protection, and online network management.
The $100-per-month contract is good for one year, and can be cancelled at any time. Optional static IP addresses are also available: one for an additional $20 per month, and five for $30 per month.
"Google Fiber's business service will be a huge competitive advantage to companies like Hint, where our digital artists and developers need to edit and deliver content in real time both in our home market of KC, and with our partners in Los Angeles, Silicon Valley and New York," CEO Teri Rogers said.
Interested businesses can check their address online for eligibility. If you're pining for super-fast Web connections, check out PCMag's slideshow above of the best places to get gigabit Internet.