Google Fiber buys Webpass to speed up broadband deployment in cities - CNET

Google Fiber will soon have a new tool in its toolbox to bring ultra-fast 1Gbps broadband service to millions of people in cities throughout the US.

On Wednesday Webpass, an inteet service provider that uses point-to-point wireless to deliver high-speed broadband to apartment buildings and businesses, said it was being bought by Google for an undisclosed amount. Neither company has disclosed details of the transaction, but the deal is expected to close this summer after regulatory approval.

Webpass uses a combination of rooftop wireless networks connected to high speed fiber connections to deliver broadband connections that it claims can be as fast as 1 gigabit per second. The company is already operating in five major markets, including San Francisco Bay area, San Diego, Miami, Chicago, and Boston.

Google Fiber, which is a subsidiary of Google parent company Alphabet, announced earlier this year plans to deploy its 1Gbps broadband service in San Francisco. And it has already listed Chicago and San Diego as potential future Google Fiber cities. The acquisition of Webpass should help accelerate those plans and could help the company push into other cities with its broadband service.

"By joining forces, we can accelerate the deployment of superfast Inteet connections for customers across the US," Webcast president and founder Charles Barr said in a blog post announcing the deal with Google. "Webpass will remain focused on rapid deployment of high speed Inteet connections for residential and commercial buildings, primarily using point-to-point wireless,"