Does this have anything to do with the existing Utopia network or will it be a completely separate build-out?
I was in college when iProvo was building out, but it didn't live up to the hype. Over 10 years later and the dream of fiber in the front range is finally coming to fruition.
Completely separate. Pete Ashdown of Xmission (Utopia) has expressed annoyance[1] that SLC approved Google but not Xmission, which has been providing services to the city since its birth. I tend to agree with him, but any news like this is good news, and maybe it will introduce more competition.
I wouldn't think so since, as far as I know, the Utopia network was never built out in SLC. Provo had their own and it was a very simple handover for them, but Google's apparently[1] going to build one out, either using dark fiber that's already there or laying out new fiber.
This is good news in that, at the very least, it'll light a fire under Comcast's business. Qwest/Century link were never a serious competitor anyway.
I was in college when iProvo was building out, but it didn't live up to the hype. Over 10 years later and the dream of fiber in the front range is finally coming to fruition.