America might have invented the internet, but it’s definitely not at the top of the chart when it comes to speed and cost.

According to Net Index, as of July 25th, 2010, America stands 31st in internet speeds, with an average of 14 MB/second. Hong Kong is at the top of the charts with speeds over 41 MB/second, followed by South Korea with 32 MB/second. Other countries to top the United States in terms of internet speeds include: Lithuania, Andorra, Latvia, Japan, Romania, Bulgaria, Republic of Moldova, Malta, and even Liechtenstein (the 6th smallest nation in the world).

So why does the most powerful country in the world lag behind countries with names that sound like they came out of a James Cameroon movie?

It all comes down to the infrastructure available to provide such speeds. Until optic fiber became available as a technology for internet and television services, broadband (cable) was at the top of the line. These smaller, developing countries did not have the luxury of cable internet. The United States gradually introduced higher speeds because it had the infrastructure of cable wires available. But now that fiber is the newest and fastest way of providing internet, these smaller countries went straight to it, instead of going the broadband way first, then eventually fiber.

Unfortunately, the US has been slow in adapting fiber because it didn’t need to. For the time being, cable provided and continues to provide enough speeds for today’s needs, but it’s not future proof. Cable may go up to 400 MB/second for business needs, but you may be lucky to get 100 MB/second for your home, albeit at a very high price. Most internet users have between 10 and 20 MB/sec for their home, at around $50/month.

Google plans to change that and has partnered with Kansas City to begin laying down fiber optics in the United States.

Google has 3 plans available for Kansas City residents. Its most expensive plan is only $120/month (+ fees and taxes) and includes up to one gigabit upload and download speed, a full channel TV lineup, no data caps, a free Nexus 7 tablet, TV Box, Storage Box, Network Box, and 1TB Google Drive. to bring Fiber optic speeds to the United States. Fiber optic allows for speeds of up to 1 Megabite/second. Yes, that’s 1000 MB/second downloads and uploads.

If you’re a KC resident, you also have the option of just 1GB/second internet for only $70.

Since the infrastructure for fiber has to be laid, a $300 construction fee is required. Google will waive that fee with its first 2 plans, but if you decide you don’t need the 1GB/second speed just yet, you can pay the $300 construction fee and get FREE internet guaranteed for 7 years with speeds up to 5MB/second down and 1MB/second up.

To get the service, you have to preregister and get a few neighbors together to form a “fiberhood”, as Google calls it. These fiberhoods are communities that show enough interest by preregistering, and it’s how Google will decide where to begin laying the fiber infrastructure first.

Learn more and preregister at Google Fiber.

As reported by GadgetFIXX

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