Google Fiber has announced the closing of its previously announced deal to acquire ISP Webpass (see "Google Fiber to buy gigabit wireless service provider Webpass"). The acquisition is significant in that it extends Google Fiber's footprint into five new markets and provides the company with the wireless broadband expertise it says it expects to use in other markets.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed. A separate transaction that involves affiliate Webpass Telecommunications, LLC, is expected to close later this year.
Webpass served subscribers in Boston, Chicago, San Diego, San Francisco, and Miami. While Google Fiber had announced limited deployment plans in San Francisco (see "Google turns to others to launch gigabit FTTH in San Francisco, Huntsville"), the other markets are new to the company.
So too is the point-to-point wireless technology Webpass uses in some markets to complement its fiber to the premises infrastructure (see "ISP Webpass offers fiber-optic network service in San Francisco"). Frustrated by red tape and other obstacles to its fiber to the home (FTTH) deployments, Google executives have discussed the potential of using point-to-point wireless to deliver its gigabit services. In fact, the company's infrastructure roll out in Silicon Valley are reportedly on hold as the company evaluates the wireless option.
Google Fiber says that it expects Webpass to expand into other cities and continue to use its wireless approach. The company itself, meanwhile, will use both approaches.
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