Google promises to wire Kansas City like no other place in the country. But what to do with all that rocket-fast Internet speed?
A local technology start-up incubator isn’t content to leave use of the 1-gigabit-per-second connections to chance.
Instead, Think Big Partners is organizing the Gigabit Challenge to analyze ideas for applications of Google Fiber.
On Wednesday, the Gigabit Challenge announced prizes totaling $200,000 in cash and services for ideas for making the best use of the super-fast hook-ups, including $100,000 worth for the best idea.
“It will give you a jump start to help you with your great idea to get better, and get better faster,” said Tyler Prochnow, a founder of Think Big.
Google announced in early spring that it had chosen the Kansas City market as the first large-scale deployment of fiber optic cable to virtually every home and business. The search engine company has said uploads and downloads will run 10 to 100 times faster than what’s available to most Americans, at costs competitive with the slower connections.
That project was much sought-after across the country as a way to turbo charge a local economy with high-tech infrastructure. Just how it will make a difference has been less clear.
Google has suggested that, like broadband before it, the practical use of the new speeds won’t become obvious until the super-fast connections become common.
The Gigabit Challenge suggests less patience. It aims to identify some of the best potential uses before the service cranks up. It seeks three- to five-page summaries of business ideas by Oct. 3, with subsequent deadlines for a winnowed field of finalists. It will announce winners in January.
The contest is not affiliated with Google, but a company spokeswoman said in an email Wednesday that the contest was “part of the innovation we hope Google Fiber will spur.” By Scott Canon, Kansas City Star