1GB Internet Speed At Risk, Google Fiber Forced To Downsize By Alphabet

Google Fiber is one of the fastest commercial internet providers around, with standard services amounting to 1Gbps. Unfortunately for the revolutionary ISP, they fell short of their target 5 million subscribers in the U.S. As a result, its parent company Alphabet is forcing the branch to downsize.

According to a report by The Information, inside sources indicate that the goal by the Google Fiber broadband branch was 5 million subscribers in as many years. After two years, however, a former employee revealed that the service only managed to gather 200,000 subscribers. Another source in the company also indicated that even now, the numbers are still far below expectations.

This likely contributed to the reason by the ISP to switch to the more affordable wireless approach and why it is ramping up its efforts to test out the technology in key areas around the country. Even so, it would seem that Alphabet CEO Larry Page does not believe Google Fiber is doing enough and has given orders to branch chief Craig Barratt to cut the number of employees by 500. This only leaves half of the workforce in Google Fiber.

Google Fiber has been plagued with delays and installment issues from the get-go, Ars Technica reports, with the ISP forced to suspend projected in places like Portland, Oregon. It also had to cancel planned installations in other key areas due to challenges of cost and logistics.

Even with the wireless approach and the downsizing, there is no guarantee that the provider of the fastest commercial internet connection is going to hit its mark. Alphabet reportedly still considers Google Fiber as "a huge market opportunity," but this could easily change if the branch fails to bring in the number of subscribers that it set out to get. In the end, customers might have to settle for the unsatisfactory ISPs that they have always had.