A York County city will be the first in South Carolina to get new Google Fiber service
Tega Cay will be the first city in South Carolina with access to Google Fiber service.
Gov. Henry McMaster joined Google and city staff Wednesday to announce the plans. Tega Cay’s service is a first in South Carolina, but also an extension of Google Fiber in the Charlotte market. Service is available in the Charlotte and Triangle markets in North Carolina now.
The service is available in 32 markets in 17 states, including the addition of Tega Cay.
Construction on infrastructure for the Tega Cay service should begin early next year. Internet service would follow by late 2024.
In Charlotte, Google Fiber recently added 5 Gig and 8 Gig service. Other planned metro expansion areas includes Huntersville and Concord, North Carolina. Details on which Tega Cay neighborhoods will get services on what schedule aren’t yet available. According to Google Fiber, new network additions can take several years to complete.
Google Fiber offers include home Internet, Wi-Fi, television and phone service, plus business options. Rates for Tega Cay aren’t listed, but Charlotte prices range from $70 a month for 1 Gig internet to $150 a month for 8 Gig.
Tega Cay City Council unanimously approved a service agreement this week to bring in Google Fiber.
“This partnership will bring high speed Internet access, economic growth and innovation to our community,” Mayor Chris Gray said during Wednesday’s announcement. “We are committed to making Tega Cay a hub of connectivity and progress.”
Google Fiber announced plans in 2015 to bring its service to North Carolina.
“Even then,” said company southeast manager Darrel Hegar, “it was our hope that we would not only be in the Charlotte area, but we would be in South Carolina.”
Gov. Henry McMaster called the news a great step forward.
Long-time residents and new ones alike, McMaster said, will benefit as they have to be educated, kept safe and given opportunities to succeed to maintain the quality of life people in South Carolina expect.
“That’s where this comes in,” McMaster said. “That’s where Google comes in. That’s where broadband comes in. That’s where the Internet comes in. What we’ve learned is, our people have a thirst for information.”
This story was originally published October 19, 2023 at 4:13 PM.
