Google Fiber hops to new, pricier plans for businesses

All good things — or in this case inexpensive things — must come to an end.

Google Fiber will soon nix early-access pricing for its gigabit business service and will more than double its costs for new customers in August. Google Fiber — which first arrived in Kansas City in 2012 with residential service — will offer businesses three new plans of varying costs.

“We know that businesses come in different shapes and sizes,” Google wrote in a blog post. “They have varying needs and would like the flexibility to choose a plan that best fits their needs. That’s why we’re transitioning from the early access program and introducing three new plans. … We can’t wait to see what small businesses will do next with superfast Internet.”

Effective Aug. 1, businesses that sign up for Google Fiber’s gigabit internet will pay $250 per month — an increase from $100 per month. That’s annual price increase from $1,200 per year to $3,000 per year.

The new plans mean that businesses seeking Google Fiber services can access 250 megabits per second for $100 per month, and 100 mbps for $70 per month. Google also increased the number of static IP addresses available to a business — up to 13.

Firms already with Google Fiber’s gigabit service for businesses will maintain their $100 per month pricing until July 31, 2017. Businesses hoping to snag the $100 per month pricing have until July 31, 2016, to sign up.

Here’s the latest pricing breakdown from Google:

To much excitement, Google launched its gigabit business service in Kansas City in 2014. Area businesses pined for Google Fiber’s gigabit service since the company launched its residential service the summer of 2012.

The new business pricing represents Google Fiber’s maturation in Kansas City as the firm will be moving away from early pricing for both business and residential services.

In April, Google Fiber announced changes for its residential services, eliminating its free residential Internet offering. Google has offered the free service — which required a one-time $300 construction fee —  since its expansion into Kansas City about four years ago. The company replaced the free offering with a $50 per month plan that offers 100 megabits per second.