A Sony-backed Japanese ISP is offering plans with 2Gbps download and 1Gbps upload speeds in Tokyo and districts surrounding it - double the speed offered by Google Fiber in specific cities in the U.S.
Sony said Tuesday that its own Internet service provider So-net Entertainment has launched the world's fastest Internet connection for home use.
Targeting individual homes and small apartment buildings, the 'Nuro' intrnet service will cost 4,980 yen ($51) per month, offering download speeds of 2 Gbps and uploads of up to 1 Gbps. Besides the three wired LAN ports, the provided equipment will feature a Wireless LAN function with a 450Mbps speed.
Japanese customers are required to sign up for a two-year contract and pay 52,500 yen ($540) for the initial installation.
Google is already offering a gigabit internet service to
Kansas City and plans to expand to Austin, Texas by mid-2014. Google charges a monthly fee of $70 for the service.