News

Gigabit-speed Internet coming to some Seattle neighborhoods

SEATTLE — The city of Seattle is working with Gigabit Squared and the University of Washington to build a broadband fiber network to offer Internet service that is up to 1,000 times faster than what's available now.

"Instead of upload/download speeds of 10 or 20 mbps people would be able to use speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second," said reporter David Ham after attending Mayor McGinn's announcement Thursday morning.

Ham said the service will be offered initially to these neighborhoods: University's west campus district, South Lake Union, First Hill/Capitol Hill, University's metropolitan tract, University's family housing at Sand Point, Northgate, Volunteer Park, Beacon Hill, Sodo, Mount Baker, Columbia City, Othello and Rainier Beach.

On its website the city said, "We're working with partners like Gigabit Squared and the University of Washington to use our existing 'dark fiber' as the backbone of a new fiber broadband network. It won't happen overnight. But we are beginning the work of building a 21st century Internet infrastructure for Seattle."