Google turns broadband provider with promise of 1000MB speeds

Google is moving into broadband with promised speeds 100 times faster than average connections.

Google Fiber has launched in Kansas City in Kansas and Missouri. People will need to pre-register for the service, and it will be installed only if the majority of people in a neighbourhood want it.

The search-giant is promising gigabit speeds (1,000MB) and will also be throwing in a free Nexus 7 tablet to anyone who subscribes to its internet and TV package. Standalone internet will cost $70 a month with the TV package priced at $120 per month.

A slow speed 5MB package is being offered free of charge, aside from an initial $300 installation fee.

Read more: Google news | Broadband news

Milo Medin, vice president of access services at Google, said the internet needs to be faster.

"Today the Internet is not as fast as it should be. While high speed technology exists, the average Internet speed in the U.S. is still only 5.8 megabits per second.

"Access speeds have simply not kept pace with the phenomenal increases in computing power and storage capacity that's spurred innovation over the last decade, and that's a challenge we're excited to work on," he said.

For more information on Google Fiber and the packages currently on offer click here.