14 DAY TRIAL // It's now clear what Google plans to do with the satellite earth stations it wants to build near its data center in Iowa, as speculated, Google plans to offer pay TV services along with internet via its Google Fiber project in Kansas City.
Google has just filed the necessary papers for approval, as it's done with the satellite antenna farm. It should have no problem getting it though.
The papers are filed via Google Fiber, the Google subsidiary that is building the fiber optics network and that will run the program afterwards.
Google Fiber has just started work on the network, so don't expect it to be able to connect subscribers too soon. Likewise for the TV service, which will use the same cables.
But it's clear that Google is going all out with its Fiber project, offering a full service to its subscribers. The internet part already looks really good, 1 Gbps, as much as 100 times faster than the average connection in the US and some 10 times faster than the fastest available today from the large ISPs, at a competitive price.
It remains to be seen whether the TV service will live up to this, Google has had problems securing content deals with much of the old media. Still, it does have some interesting advantages, YouTube being the biggest.
Presumably, Google Fiber subscribers will also get a Google TV box which could be customized to the selection offered via the pay TV service. There's a great opportunity for integration here.
That's no guarantee that it will happen though. Google seems rather unable to come up with great products anymore at least not in this area, Google TV being the best example. Google Music could be added to the list as well.