Huntsville to become ‘Gig City’ with Google Fiber

Huntsville leaders announced plans recently for a new fiber network that will bring ultra-fast Internet service to residents and businesses in Alabama’s Rocket City.

Mayor Tommy Battle and Huntsville Utilities CEO Jay Stowe were joined by the director of expansion for Google Fiber, Jill Szuchmacher, who announced that the technology company is bringing its high-speed Internet service to Huntsville.

“We already know Huntsville is a place where people do cool things, smart things, things that change the world,” Mayor Battle said. “A rocket city deserves rocket speed, and that means a network that connects to the Internet at 1 gigabit per second. Your Internet will be 50 to 100 times faster than it is today.”

Huntsville is among six U.S. cities being targeted for Google Fiber, the company announced today. The announcement comes about nine months after Google announced plans for a $600 million data center in nearby Jackson County, a project expected to boost Alabama’s technology sector.

“Abundant high-speed Internet can help communities grow stronger, laying a foundation for innovation and economic growth,” Szuchmacher said. “Huntsville’s leaders have taken a big step by bringing a new fiber network to their residents and businesses. We look forward to working with Huntsville Utilities and the City to bring Google Fiber to more people.”

‘GIG CITY’

Mayor Battle first proclaimed his goal to make Huntsville a “Gig City” about 15 months ago and repeated it in an interview with Made In Alabama earlier this year.

“Google’s entrance into our market bolsters our high-tech legacy, energizes our entrepreneurs, tinkers and engineers, and supports the high quality of life Huntsville is known for delivering,” Mayor Battle said today. “Fiber to the home is the Internet infrastructure for the 21st century. It is as vital to our quality of life as roads, water, sewer and electricity. It will become the benchmark for cities vying for talent. ”