Innovation

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

By Jason Hiner

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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
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google-fiber-map-louisville.jpg
Photos: How Google Fiber is using ‘shallow trenching’ to outbuild its gigabit rivals

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
Image of Jason Hiner
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.