Photo courtesy Google Fiber

Construction has been underway for some time on the Google Fiber network, officials revealed Oct. 15.

Google Fiber is making good on a promise more than a year and a half in the making.

The high-speed, gigabit-level Internet service provider will launch service in parts of South and Southeast Austin beginning in December, said Mark Strama, Google Fiber's Austin city manager.

Austin will become the third city nationally to receive the fiber Internet service from Google behind Kansas City, Missouri, and Provo, Utah. However, Google Fiber will be the third ISP to offer gigabit speeds in Austin behind Grande Communications and AT&T GigaPower.

The initial service area will include the South Lamar, Zilker, Bouldin and Travis Heights neighborhoods, among other areas.

"That is where we will start—that is not where we will finish," Strama told media during an Oct. 15 news conference. "Not every part of Austin will get fiber, but all areas will have the opportunity, and we will build in the areas with the highest demand."

Austin residents in eligible areas—dubbed fiberhoods—interested in Google Fiber services can sign up starting in early December. The service will differ from other gigabit providers, Strama said, because Google connects fiber cables all the way to the home or end user.

"It's like connecting the freeway all the way to your garage," he said.

Google Fiber will continue building out its network, not just in Austin but throughout the nation, in an attempt to create a gigabit-level Internet network that can help catalyze important technology developments in all areas, Strama said.

"We think the full potential of gigabit speeds won't be realized until we reach a critical mass of users," he said.

In addition to services offering gigabit-level speeds, the cost of which Google Fiber has not disclosed, Strama did confirm Google Fiber intends on offering a one-time construction fee of $300 in exchange for broadband Internet service. A similar service was offered in Kansas City, although no explanation of that plan's rollout has been provided.