Alphabet is dramatically cutting back on its plans to expand its Fiber internet service nationwide. The company is laying off or reassigning about nine percent of its staff as well as “pausing” or ending fiber operations “potential Fiber cities” where it hadn’t yet fully committed to building. Fiber will continue operations in markets where it already has a footprint.
Craig Barratt, CEO of Alphabet’s Access division running Google Fiber, will step down from his post and remain only as an adviser. In a blog post announcing his departure, Barrat noted that Fiber’s business is solid, with its subscriber base and revenue are growing quickly, and more of that growth in the horizon — they’re just shifting strategy.
