Google Fiber construction underway in latest Arizona expansion

By Griffin Uribe Brown

Google Fiber's high-speed fiber internet service is being built out in Tempe.

Construction for nearly 85,000 linear feet of fiber, coordinated with the city's road repaving projects, is underway in Tempe’s Warner Ranch Neighborhood, the city said. Google pledged it will “work closely with the city and county to minimize disruption to residents.”

When the service is live, it will offer multi-gigabit residential options ranging from $70 to $150 monthly, and business-specific options at either a monthly $250 for two-gigabits or $100 for one-gigabit.

“Google Fiber wants to be in Arizona like a lot of businesses want to be in Arizona,” said Will Novak, Google Fiber's government and community affairs manager. “Arizona is always growing … so that’s part of it, and then the other part of it is that there’s not a tremendous amount of fiber coverage here yet.”

Fiber is an internet technology that uses strands of glass or plastic to send information, unlike the copper digital subscriber line internet system and traditional cable. Novak referred to it as a “big generational leap forward” over previous iterations of internet service.

In 2024, the number of unique U.S. homes with access to fiber rose to 76.5 million, a 13% growth from the previous year, according to the Fiber Broadband Association. In Arizona, other fiber competitors like Quantum Fiber and Cox Communications also offer fiber internet services.

Tempe’s Google Fiber project received approval for a fiber permit under the city’s new Fiber License and Right-of-Way Use agreement. The agreement was created last October by Tempe City Council to bring internet service providers with low-cost, high-speed internet to Tempe, public information officer Maegan Pardue told the Business Journal.

“Fiber permitting and construction is a huge win — making high-speed internet more affordable, reliable, and accessible to everyone, no matter where they live in Tempe,” Councilmember Randy Keating, who has worked to bring Google Fiber to the city since 2017, said in a statement. “It’s been a long road, but I couldn’t be more proud of our city for taking this important step forward.”

Google, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., first introduced Google Fiber in 2010. In the decade that followed, a bumpy rollout saw some cities’ fiber projects fail, including in Louisville, Kentucky, where Google was ordered to pay nearly $4 million for damaging roads and other infrastructure.

Google Fiber already works in several Valley cities

Google Fiber has since “ironed out” its fiber operation after its rocky start, Novak said. Today, Google Fiber is available in 19 states, with more services active or coming soon to cities nationwide, including several more in the Valley. The company already offers service in Mesa, Chandler and Queen Creek.

“A big part of it is working with our city partners,” Novak said. “Cities like Mesa, Chandler, Queen Creek — they’ve been great to work with so far, they help us get the permits in a timely manner, they let us know what they need.”

Google first began exploring plans to bring high-speed internet to Arizona back in 2015, the Business Journal previously reported. The company’s current fiber model is focused on major metros and suburbs, Novak said.

In March 2023, Google announced it was going to offer fiber services in Mesa’s Westwood neighborhood, its first expansion in Arizona. Later that year, the high-speed internet provider received unanimous approval from the Queen Creek Town Council to build a fiber-to-home network.

Around the same time, fiber construction began in Chandler. A year later, the service rolled out to customers near Intel’s Ocotillo campus, and Google said it had plans to cover the entire city by 2028.

In October of last year, Google Fiber opened an office at 1130 N. Alma School Rd. in Mesa, describing it as a “continued commitment to connect with the local Arizona community and support its residents.”

“High-speed, dependable internet is essential for creating equal opportunities across our city. With Google Fiber, even more residents will have the tools they need to thrive in today’s digital world,” Councilmember Berdetta Hodge said in a statement.

Before it expired last June, some Google Fiber users received discounts through the Affordable Connectivity Program, a pandemic-era program that offered monthly internet service discounts of up to $30 for low-income households and up to $75 for those on qualifying tribal lands. Funded by the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the program offered 23 million households, nearly half of whom were Latino and Black, discounts through the Federal Communications Commission.

Post-ACP, Google Fiber's 300 megabits low-cost product at the $30 monthly price remains available for enrolled households, and the program continues to expand eligibility to households making less than $40,000 a year, Novak confirmed.

Tempe residents and businesses can sign up for information on Google Fiber's rollout. Those interested in whether the service is coming to their area can see on the “Check Availability” tab on its website.

Final Thoughts

Reliable, high-speed internet is no longer a luxury — it’s a necessity. With Google Fiber expanding in Tempe and across the Valley, Arizona continues to position itself as a forward-thinking tech hub offering real, everyday advantages to its residents.

For out-of-state buyers considering a move, infrastructure like Google Fiber is more than convenience — it’s a sign of long-term value. Whether you're a remote worker, entrepreneur, or streaming-loving family, living in a community with affordable, gig-speed internet unlocks greater work-life balance and lifestyle flexibility.

As more neighborhoods come online, the combination of quality of life, digital access, and Arizona's growing economy makes cities like Tempe even more desirable. It's not just about buying a home. It's about building a connected, future-ready life.