Google Fiber begins building fiber network in Raleigh and Charlotte, N.C.

Google Fiber (NASDAQ: GOOG) has started building its gigabit fiber network in Raleigh and Charlotte, N.C. The company announced the construction on Twitter showing photos of crews digging and burying fiber in those two cities.

The expansion into Raleigh and Charlotte, N.C. isn't a surprise. The company announced plans to launch Google Fiber in those cities back in January when it also announced plans to deploy Google Fiber in Salt Lake City, Nashville, Tenn., and Atlanta. Google hasn't revealed a time frame for when it will begin signing up customers in those markets for service.

The company did, however, say its engineers are working closely with city officials in Raleigh and Charlotte to design its network, including getting permits and creating detailed maps of where it can deploy its fiber as well as where it can attach the fiber to utility poles.

Earlier this month, Google Fiber started building its fiber-to-the-home networks in Nashville and Salt Lake City. The company said that it is creating fiber rings in both cities by attaching fiber to utility poles.

In Salt Lake City, the company will deploy 600 miles of fiber, which will be attached to more than 20,000 utility poles which will then be attached to a point of presence on the ring. Those points then connect to five fiber huts where the company will house the electronics that serves the customers.

Google Fiber is expected to announce expansion to expand to more markets including Phoenix, Portland, Ore., San Antonio, and San Jose, Calif., sometime later this year.   

For more:
- see this DSLReports article

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