Google Fiber to develop first Idaho network in Pocatello
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POCATELLO — The city of Pocatello has announced that it will be the first in the state to welcome Google Fiber — a high-speed internet service that uses a fiber optic cable network.
The announcement came last week, with the first customers in the city expected to have access to GFiber by the end of the year, according to Mayor Brian Blad.
“It means the world that we have a company like Google Fiber that would entertain the idea that Pocatello is a great location to start (in) Idaho — they’re not in Idaho anywhere. We will be the first city where they enter into the marketplace here. I think that’s a compliment to everybody that’s helped Pocatello grow,” Blad told EastIdahoNews.com.
He continued, calling the decision from the massive company a “testament to the entire community.”
“It’s telling, on the fact that Pocatello has grown, that Pocatello has really gotten on the map,” the mayor said.
Blad said that the city received a report about one year ago showing Pocatello as having the slowest internet service in the region — one of the slowest in the nation. Since, city leadership has been working to improve the service provided to its citizens.
The partnership with Google Fiber, he said, “came about very quickly.”
According to a tweet from Google Fiber, Pocatello residents can track the progress by signing up for updates on the company’s website — here.
Hellooo, Pocatello! We're getting ready to build our fiber optic network in our newest state — Idaho. ?
Construction is set to begin later this year, so if you’re an Idahoan who’s ready for gigabit speeds, sign up for updates on our progress ?https://t.co/wyDJedgN7H pic.twitter.com/KWknuwOBdr
— GFiber (@googlefiber) April 20, 2023
As residents begin to gain access to the improved internet, Blad asks that all residents rest assured that their access will arrive.
“One thing that as very important to me, and to our team here and Google as well, was, we did not want to see Google come only for the influential area — we wanted to make sure that Google would be able to service all the areas of Pocatello,” he said.
Blad expects all Pocatello residents to have the opportunity to access Google Fiber by early- to mid-2024.