Google Fiber incites SMB battle against CenturyLink, Comcast in Provo, Utah

Google Fiber (NASDAQ: GOOG) is taking advantage of its fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) footprint in Provo, Utah, to extend services to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in the area, a move that will find it facing off with incumbent telco CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL) and cable operator Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA).

This latest service drive leverages the "Early Access" program Google Fiber introduced in Kansas City last November that focused on providing tailored services for small businesses.

Small businesses that reside in Google's "fiberhoods" will be able to subscribe to its 1 Gbps broadband service for $100 a month. As an added incentive, the service provider is waiving the construction fee and guaranteed pricing for a year. In addition, it is selling optional static IP addresses--one for $20 a month or five for $30 a month.

Besides Provo, Google Fiber is also extending 1 Gbps services to additional areas of Kansas City, including Kansas City North and South.

In November, Google Fiber began reaching out to local Kansas City businesses to gauge their interest in getting the service. At that time, the service provider sent a mailer to area businesses that said the service would cost $100 a month.

Interestingly, Google Fiber is now going to face two new competitors in Kansas City in AT&T (NYSE: T) and Consolidated Communications, two telcos that have also announced plans to offer a similar 1 Gbps service.

AT&T announced in February that it would make its U-verse with GigaPower service available in parts of Kansas City, Mo., as well as parts of Leawood, Lenexa, Olathe and Overland Park in Kansas and in surrounding communities located throughout the metro area. However, it did not reveal what specific parts of the city would be the first to get the service.

Consolidated should also provide a formidable threat to Google Fiber as well. Leveraging the FTTP assets it purchased from SureWest, the service provider launched a 1 Gbps Internet package for residential customers for $70 a month in November.

For more:
- see this blog post

Editor's Corner: Google Fiber dips into Kansas City's business market, but expansion is not a slam dunk

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