In a move that’s sparking debate among budget-conscious internet users, Google Fiber has officially discontinued its $50-per-month, 100 Mbps plan for new customers. The company made the announcement this week, stating that only the $70 gigabit plan will be available going forward a significant shift for an ISP once seen as a disruptor offering affordable high-speed internet.
A Price That Hasn’t Budged Since 2012
While the end of the lower-tier plan may frustrate some potential customers, there’s a silver lining: Google Fiber’s gigabit offering has remained priced at $70 per month since its debut in November 2012. In an industry dominated by regular rate hikes, hidden fees, and throttling concerns from major internet service providers, that kind of pricing consistency is virtually unheard of.
As the company noted in its statement, “We’re all going to a show… We will no longer offer a 100 Mbps subscription to new customers.” Existing subscribers to the legacy plan will be allowed to continue using it at the same rate, a practice known as “grandfathering.”
Why the 100 Mbps Plan Still Mattered
The 100 Mbps tier, introduced around 2016, remained a smart pick for users who didn’t need blazing speeds and wanted to save $20 monthly. It easily handled multiple 4K streams and regular internet use, especially considering that even Netflix only recommends a 25 Mbps connection for ultra-HD content.
Even Google Stadia, the tech giant’s now-defunct cloud gaming service, only required 35 Mbps for its best-quality settings. For households with modest streaming and browsing needs, the 100 Mbps option offered more than enough speed and less strain on the budget.
Why Google Fiber Made the Shift
So, why eliminate a perfectly good plan? The likely answer is economics.
Google Fiber says internet usage is rising rapidly across American homes, with more devices, higher-definition content, and smarter homes demanding faster speeds. By pushing new users to gigabit service, the company not only future-proofs its offering but also boosts its average revenue per user a critical metric for growth.
“If you think you don’t need performance now, we think you will soon,†the company emphasized. And unlike many ISPs, Google continues to resist data caps, making its gigabit tier even more attractive for high-use households.
The Bigger Limitation: Access, Not Speed
Despite the shift to gigabit-only plans, many people across the U.S. still can’t access Google Fiber and that’s a much larger issue than pricing.
Since pausing its fiber optic expansion in 2016, the company has faced mounting logistical and legal hurdles. Cities have battled entrenched ISPs over access to utility poles. A failed micro-trenching experiment in Louisville led to Google Fiber paying $3.8 million to cover damages and exit the city altogether. The original dream of disrupting the broadband industry has been narrowed by real-world infrastructure challenges.
Currently, Google Fiber is available in limited zones across 18 U.S. metros, including Austin, Kansas City, Charlotte, and Salt Lake City. Thanks to its 2016 acquisition of Webpass, the company also offers high-speed wireless service in urban hubs like San Francisco, Chicago, and Miami, with prices starting at $60 a month.
Still, availability remains spotty, even in cities where service technically exists. For many would-be customers, it’s not the speed or price that’s the problem it’s getting the option at all.
Conclusion: A Gigabit Future, But Who Gets In?
As of 2025, Google Fiber’s strategic pivot marks a clear message: the future of internet service is fast, uncapped, and at least for now priced at a steady $70. But unless the company finds a way to overcome its rollout bottlenecks, only a fraction of Americans will actually get to benefit from that future.
The death of the $50 plan may raise eyebrows, but the bigger conversation is about access equity, not speed. Until expansion resumes, Google Fiber risks becoming a premium service for the few, not a revolutionary one for the many.