Google and Cisco

Google announced a couple of weeks ago that they intended to experiment and deploy a 1GB network in the US for connecting up to 500k households. See the Google blog site for details.

So who is scared? One industry pundit writes:

Regardless, the carriers are scared. Just like they were scared when Google said that it would start investing in wireless broadband by participating in wireless spectrum auctions. Earlier today we held our most recent Bunker Series Event where we discussed the broadband buildout ( GigaOM Pro, sub req’d), and I was pretty explicit in making the point that Google Fiber is a good thing, because incumbent carriers have been dragging their feet for too long.

And who is the Winner in this? The FT writes:

Cisco Systems is developing an ultra-high-speed system for internet access in partnership with a number of US service providers, according to people close to the company.

The move by the US telecommunications equipment maker comes just weeks after Google promised it would build an ultra-high-speed fibre-optic system . The Federal Communications Commission, the US media regulator, is preparing to unveil its national broadband strategy next month. Unlike Google, Cisco’s move does not appear to conflict with existing broadband network operators.