Photos: How Google Fiber is using 'shallow trenching' to outbuild its gigabit rivals

Innovation

Photos: How Google Fiber is using ‘shallow trenching’ to outbuild its gigabit rivals

By Jason Hiner October 18, 2017, 9:55 AM PDT

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Photos: How Google Fiber is using ‘shallow trenching’ to outbuild its gigabit rivals

Louisville's Google Fiber van

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Louisville's Google Fiber van

Sometimes called microtrenching or nanotrenching, Google Fiber is using the technique to deploy gigabit internet over twice as fast as AT&T Fiber in Louisville. TechRepublic has photos of the process in action, as well as the Google Fiber launch event on October 18, 2017.

SEE: How Google Fiber launched in Louisville in just 5 months

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Google Fiber worker

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Google Fiber worker

SEE: How Google Fiber launched in Louisville in just 5 months

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

'No Parking' signs to clear the way for installers

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

'No Parking' signs to clear the way for installers

SEE: How Google Fiber launched in Louisville in just 5 months

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Google Fiber installers pull fiber cables

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Google Fiber installers pull fiber cables

SEE: How Google Fiber launched in Louisville in just 5 months

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Google Fiber workers lay cables in trenches

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Google Fiber workers lay cables in trenches

SEE: How Google Fiber launched in Louisville in just 5 months

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Discreet trench for Google Fiber cables

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Discreet trench for Google Fiber cables

SEE: How Google Fiber launched in Louisville in just 5 months

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Google Fiber installer

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Google Fiber installer

SEE: How Google Fiber launched in Louisville in just 5 months

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

A nanotrench with fiber cables

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

A nanotrench with fiber cables

SEE: How Google Fiber launched in Louisville in just 5 months

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Fiber optic cables ready to be installed

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Fiber optic cables ready to be installed

SEE: How Google Fiber launched in Louisville in just 5 months

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Installer lays fiber cables

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Installer lays fiber cables

SEE: How Google Fiber launched in Louisville in just 5 months

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Worker feeds cable into nanotrench

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Worker feeds cable into nanotrench

SEE: How Google Fiber launched in Louisville in just 5 months

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Giant spools of fiber optic cables

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Giant spools of fiber optic cables

SEE: How Google Fiber launched in Louisville in just 5 months

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Cutting a trench to connect homes

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Cutting a trench to connect homes

SEE: How Google Fiber launched in Louisville in just 5 months

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Giant ditch tool

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Giant ditch tool

SEE: How Google Fiber launched in Louisville in just 5 months

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Workers fill in trenches

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Workers fill in trenches

SEE: How Google Fiber launched in Louisville in just 5 months

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Filling in the trenches on the street

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Filling in the trenches on the street

SEE: How Google Fiber launched in Louisville in just 5 months

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Covering the fiber cables to smooth out the road

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Covering the fiber cables to smooth out the road

SEE: How Google Fiber launched in Louisville in just 5 months

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Liquid trench filler

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Liquid trench filler

SEE: How Google Fiber launched in Louisville in just 5 months

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

The trench after it's been covered

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

The trench after it's been covered

SEE: How Google Fiber launched in Louisville in just 5 months

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Google Fiber workers shows the finished trench

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Google Fiber workers shows the finished trench

SEE: How Google Fiber launched in Louisville in just 5 months

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Google Fiber employees chat with local resident

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Google Fiber employees chat with local resident

SEE: How Google Fiber launched in Louisville in just 5 months

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

AT&T Fiber isn't sitting still

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

AT&T Fiber isn't sitting still

SEE: How Google Fiber launched in Louisville in just 5 months

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Another Google Fiber van in Louisville

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Another Google Fiber van in Louisville

SEE: How Google Fiber launched in Louisville in just 5 months

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer smiles at launch event

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer smiles at launch event

SEE: How Google Fiber launched in Louisville in just 5 months

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Google Fiber's Ashley Kroh at launch event

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Google Fiber's Ashley Kroh at launch event

SEE: How Google Fiber launched in Louisville in just 5 months

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Inside jack for a Google Fiber installation

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Inside jack for a Google Fiber installation

SEE: How Google Fiber launched in Louisville in just 5 months

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Google Wifi and Nvidia Shield TV incentives for Google Fiber

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Google Wifi and Nvidia Shield TV incentives for Google Fiber

SEE: How Google Fiber launched in Louisville in just 5 months

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Speed test from Google Fiber's first location in Louisville

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Speed test from Google Fiber's first location in Louisville

SEE: How Google Fiber launched in Louisville in just 5 months

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

Where Google Fiber has filed building permits in Louisville (Oct 2017)

Screenshot: Olivia Krauth

Where Google Fiber has filed building permits in Louisville (Oct 2017)

SEE: How Google Fiber launched in Louisville in just 5 months

Screenshot: Olivia Krauth

By Jason Hiner

Jason Hiner is Editorial Director of CNET and former Editor in Chief of TechRepublic. He's co-author of the book, Follow the Geeks.

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Louisville's Google Fiber van

Louisville's Google Fiber van

Google Fiber worker

Google Fiber worker

'No Parking' signs to clear the way for installers

'No Parking' signs to clear the way for installers

Google Fiber installers pull fiber cables

Google Fiber installers pull fiber cables

Google Fiber workers lay cables in trenches

Google Fiber workers lay cables in trenches

Discreet trench for Google Fiber cables

Discreet trench for Google Fiber cables

Google Fiber installer

Google Fiber installer

A nanotrench with fiber cables

A nanotrench with fiber cables

Fiber optic cables ready to be installed

Fiber optic cables ready to be installed

Installer lays fiber cables

Installer lays fiber cables

Worker feeds cable into nanotrench

Worker feeds cable into nanotrench

Giant spools of fiber optic cables

Giant spools of fiber optic cables

Cutting a trench to connect homes

Cutting a trench to connect homes

Giant ditch tool

Giant ditch tool

Workers fill in trenches

Workers fill in trenches

Filling in the trenches on the street

Filling in the trenches on the street

Covering the fiber cables to smooth out the road

Covering the fiber cables to smooth out the road

Liquid trench filler

Liquid trench filler

The trench after it's been covered

The trench after it's been covered

Google Fiber workers shows the finished trench

Google Fiber workers shows the finished trench

Google Fiber employees chat with local resident

Google Fiber employees chat with local resident

AT&T Fiber isn't sitting still

AT&T Fiber isn't sitting still

Another Google Fiber van in Louisville

Another Google Fiber van in Louisville

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer smiles at launch event

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer smiles at launch event

Google Fiber's Ashley Kroh at launch event

Google Fiber's Ashley Kroh at launch event

Inside jack for a Google Fiber installation

Inside jack for a Google Fiber installation

Google Wifi and Nvidia Shield TV incentives for Google Fiber

Google Wifi and Nvidia Shield TV incentives for Google Fiber

Speed test from Google Fiber's first location in Louisville

Speed test from Google Fiber's first location in Louisville

Where Google Fiber has filed building permits in Louisville (Oct 2017)

Where Google Fiber has filed building permits in Louisville (Oct 2017)

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