Google Fiber has finally answered one of the remaining questions about its service in Nashville: What about small businesses?
The California tech giant, whose much-hyped gigabit speed network went live in Nashville this spring after more than two years of anticipation, today announced pricing and details on three new small-business plans.
The company has offered an "Early Access" small business plan in markets where it is live since late 2014, but today's announcement offers broader options and specificity to meet various business needs. In addition the literal ability to surf the Internet and download content more quickly — at 1,000 megabits per second, gigabit is dozens of times faster than the average American household's download speed — much of Google Fiber's appeal is credited to the cool cachet it brings to a city, apartment building or startup that can tout access to the trendy service.
In the new plan structure, launching in Nashville Aug. 1, businesses can choose from three options:
- Fiber Business 1000, which offers 1,000 megabits per second download speeds for $250 a month;
- Fiber Business 250, which offers 250 Mbps for $100 a month;
- Fiber Business 100, which offers 100 Mbps for $70 a month.
Google is hardly the only player in super high-speed internet in Nashville these days. Both Comcast and AT&T offer competing products for both residential customers and businesses, and smaller players are also offering similar products. (Comcast's plans run at $300 for a multi-gig plan, $99 for 250 Mbps and $70 for 100 Mbps, while AT&T's business fiber plans start as low as $90, a month, according to spokespeople for the companies.)
Nashville business can still sign up for the Early Access program, which offered gigabit service for $100 a month in other markets, through July 31.
