Google's Secret Answer To AT&T: We'll Build Our Own Net

AT&T's increasing vocal demands that Google pay extra fees for adequate bandwidth may backfire. There's evidence that Google may consider building its own nationwide network and compete directly with the big telcos. Google has a help wanted ad for a Project Manager - Network Acquisition. Take a look at the job responsiblilities, and you'll see that if you were Google and were going to build a nationwide network, this is a job you'd need to fill.

The person will "ensure the timely and accurate installation of all aspects of facilities-based network services," which will include "delivery of end-to-end solutions for network connectivity...the delivery of new metropolitan network services, the delivery of long haul transport capacity, and augments to existing transit and peering relationships."

One of the more interesting phrases here is "new metropolitan network services." Sounds a whole lot like the city-based nationwide Wi-Fi network people think Google will launch.

Russel Shaw, in a post about this, explains in detail how Google can build a nationwide network, in addition to a series of municipal Wi-Fi networks.

So AT&T and other telcos can strut and threaten all they want. If Google decides to launch its own network, it may clean their clocks.