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Google Fiber Debuts In Highland Creek Neighborhood

Ana Lucia Murillo
/
WFAE
Google Fiber has a new office space in Uptown next to First Ward Park. The renovated building is over 100 years old and most recently housed Dixie's Tavern.

Google announced its plan to offer Google Fiber in Charlotte more than a year ago. Tuesday the super high-speed internet service opened for business in one corner of the city – Highland Creek.

The north Charlotte neighborhood is the first in Charlotte to get Google Fiber. It comes with both a download and upload speed of about 1 gigabit. It’s roughly ten times faster than typical internet.

The cost is $50 - $130, depending on the level of services like streaming and TV. Google Fiber’s Mary Ellen Player says there are also plans to eventually offer free internet to some areas.

“We will also be offering 1,000 megabits of speed at no cost to select Mecklenburg Housing Partnership, Housing Authority, and affordable housing properties across the city,” says Player.

Prosperity Village off Prosperity Church Road will be the next neighborhood to receive service. On Google Fiber’s site you can track the progress of Fiber construction.

The announcement makes Charlotte one of only six cities where Google Fiber is available. The others are Atlanta, Nashville, Austin, Kansas City, and Provo, UT. Google Fiber construction is also under way in Raleigh and four other cities.