Google expands superfast internet in US

WHILE Australians debate the merits of faster broadband, Google is extending its "super-fast" service to Texas.

Google Fiber debuted in Kansas City and in November began providing users there with internet service that moves data at a blazing gigabyte per second.

That's about 100 times faster than the speed provided by typical broadband connections in the US.

Meanwhile, in Australia, Labor's planned $44 billion national broadband network (NBN) aims to offer speeds of 100 megabits per second (Mbps).

The coalition plans a $29.5 billion NBN with speeds of 25 Mbps.

In the US, Google plans to extend its "gigabit" experimental internet service to Austin, the Texas state capital and a hotbed for internet entrepreneurs, by the middle of next year, says vice president of access services Milo Medin.

"It's a mecca for creativity and entrepreneurialism, with thriving artistic and tech communities, as well as the University of Texas and its new medical research hospital," Medin said of Austin.

"We're sure these folks will do amazing things with gigabit access."

The announcement was greeted immediately with a challenge from telecom giant AT&T, which said it would offer a similar service if it gets the same access as Google.

"When the startup community hears about Google Fiber coming to Austin there may be celebration in the streets," said Eugene Sepulveda, chief executive of the Entrepreneurs Foundation in that city.

Google says pricing details for the service are being worked out but are expected to be on par with those in Kansas City, where gigabyte-speed service is available for a monthly fee of $US70 ($A67).

Slower Google Fiber connection to the internet is made available free, after a one-time "construction fee" of $US300.

Consumers also will have an option to pay $US120 monthly for superfast internet combined with Google TV service that syncs with notebooks, smartphones or tablets powered by Android software backed by the California technology titan.

Google will hook schools, hospitals, community centres and other public facilities to Fiber for free, according to Medin.

"I don't think, probably, any Austinite can tell you what Google Fiber will mean to Austin a year from now, and that is really the cool part," Texas state Senator Kirk Watson said in a video posted at Google's blog.

Aspiring tech tycoons, their potential financiers, plus indie film-makers and musicians of all generations and genres flock by the thousands to Austin each year for a pop culture jamboree known as SXSW.

AT&T responded to the challenge from Google by announcing that it is prepared to build an advanced fibre optic network in Austin, provided it gets the same deal as Google did from local officials.

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