Google is building an experimental fiber network with 1 Gbps fiber-to-the-home connections. Goals: foster the development of next-generation applications, explore new ways of deploying fiber networks, and provide a model for an open-access network governed by network neutrality rules.

Google says that it will offer access to the network in “a small number of trial locations” and that it will serve from 50,000 to 500,000 people.