What will Google do?

Despite Google's assertion it will "put our money where our principles are" and enter the FCC's January 2008 700 MHz spectrum auction, Network World forecasts that the sheer expense and time required to develop applications and services for the spectrum may force the search giant to reconsider its plans. According to several analysts and wireless entrepreneurs, spectrum winners will require at least 18 to 24 months simply to build out network infrastructure, let alone develop marketable products. "Building and operating a network requires a lot of expertise that Google doesn't have right now," said IDC's group vice president and general manager of worldwide telecommunications Mark Winther. "They could certainly get it, because they're looking at multiple years of effort. But chances are at end of day, Google is more likely to invest money in upgrading their search engine and in selling ads."

Of course, that's assuming Google wants to build and operate a network. "Google is not looking at becoming a direct competitor with the major telcos," Harold Feld, senior vice president of nonprofit telecom law firm Media Access Project, told Network World. "Rather, I think they want to use the spectrum to entice people who are network operators to build out the kind of open-access network that Google wants. If Verizon or AT&T buys that spectrum, then Google will have to live with whatever kind of open-access network that the carriers want to build."

For more on Google's auction outlook:
- read this Network World article

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