Om Malik – 'Astound'ed. Google Flips Its Fiber to PE

6 hours ago

Om Malik recounts his experience with WebPass, a once reliable and fast internet service, which deteriorated after Google acquired it.
Google Fiber, including WebPass, has been sold to Astound Broadband, a private equity-owned company, signaling a shift from innovation to financial optimization.
The CEO of GFiber, Dinni Jain, has a history of working with companies that were later consolidated or sold, indicating a pattern rather than long-term commitment.
Astound Broadband is a conglomerate of various regional networks with differing technologies, primarily using outdated HFC infrastructure, raising concerns about service quality post-acquisition.
The article criticizes the private equity model, which prioritizes debt servicing and cash flow extraction over customer service and infrastructure investment.
Regulatory bodies like the FCC are unlikely to intervene, leaving customers with little recourse against potential price hikes and service degradation.
Alternatives like Sonic.net exist but may not be available to all, leaving many customers with no choice but to accept the declining service under Astound's ownership.
The piece concludes with a lament on the state of tech services, where profit motives overshadow customer needs and long-term innovation.

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