Google Fiber planning wireless home Internet where fiber is too pricey

Google Fiber is testing a few wireless technologies in an effort to build a wireless home Internet service that would complement its fiber broadband, according to a company executive.

Craig Barratt, a senior vice president at Alphabet who oversees Google Fiber and other projects in the company's Access and Energy division, spoke generally about the plans in an interview with Re/code published today. Though Barratt didn't reveal a timeline or specifics on technology, he said Google Fiber wants to provide fixed wireless Internet to homes where it wouldn't make financial sense to build fiber.

"We are experimenting with a number of different wireless technologies," Barratt said. "One of the things that is intriguing about wireless is that it allows you reach houses and users that are in lower density settings—where fiber becomes too expensive. So providing fixed wireless services using some of the technologies we think are ways of accelerating our deployments."

Wireless home Internet is often used in rural areas that lack fiber or cable. While wireless networks are often slow, some companies are developing networks that can rival the speeds of faster wireline ones.

Google has been testing wireless technology in Kansas City, the first Google Fiber city, the company said in a recent filing asking the Federal Communications Commission for authorization to use spectrum in the 3.5GHz band.

Barratt emphasized that the plans are around fixed wireless broadband, not mobile. Google is already in the mobile Internet business with Project Fi, but as an MVNO reselling Sprint and T-Mobile service.

Google Fiber recently ended a free Internet offer in Kansas City. While customers with the "free" service did have to pay a one-time $300 construction fee, it isn't surprising Google Fiber would want to improve its operating expense ratio, given how costly construction can be. Going with wireless could also lower the cost of expanding Internet access. Barratt said Alphabet is "confident in the business model" of Google Fiber but is "being very thoughtful in terms of where and how we invest."