Google Fiber drops its free basic tier in Kansas City, replaces with $50/m 100Mbps plan

When Google Fiber first launched in Kansas City, it did so with the promise of free internet, as long as customers paid for their installation. While subscribers could opt to pay $25 per month for 12 months to cover the $300 installation fee, internet usage was completely free. There was one caveat however: Download speeds were limited to just 5Mbps. Now, Google has replaced this Basic Tier with a 100Mbps plan and rebranded its two other tiers.

Google Fiber‘s offerings in Kansas City now include Fiber 100, Fiber 1000 and Fiber 1000 + TV. Fiber 100 costs $50 per month and includes unlimited data use with 100Mbps upload and download speeds. Like the other two plans, the installation fee (now down to $100) is waived with a 12 month agreement. This replaces the free tier which had 5Mbps downloads and 1Mbps uploads, and a $300 installation fee.

While the name has changed to Fiber 100, the middle tier plan has remained virtually unchanged. It costs $70 per month and includes up to 1000Mbps upload and download speeds as well as 1TB Google Drive cloud storage. The $130 Fiber 1000 + TV tier offers the same, plus access to 150+ channels and the ability to record up to 8 shows at once.

It’s an interesting move by Google. While some may bemoan the removal of a free tier, there’s no doubt that a 100Mbps plan will offer a much better experience to subscribers than the old 5Mbps plan ever would. It will also undoubtedly help Alphabet’s Fiber brand start becoming its own sustainable, money-making business. Tied to the recent arrival of its landline service, Google Fiber is slowly turning in to a proper telecoms provider.