By Global Telecoms Business
Google's parent Alphabet looks close to selling Skybox, causing speculation that Google's international connectivity ambitions are cooling
Executives at Google’s holding company Alphabet are reported to be close to taking Skybox off its books in an equity transaction, fuelling speculation that Google is slowing down its ambitions to connect the world.
The move into connectivity was signaled by the acquisition of Skybox and also by increases in investment in Google Fiber. This was dropped at the end of 2016. The allegations that Google intended to compete with ISPs was always shrouded in mystery and never certain.
However, the acquisition of Webpass, the wireless connectivity specialist, may just indicate that Google thinks it can connect the world in an easier way that laying fibre in the ground and competing for on submarine cables.
It, therefore, looks very likely that Google is drastically cutting back on its connectivity ambitions, although the reason for that may just be due to short-term financials as Google weighs up its options and the availability of the correct acquisitions. It may even be because of the wider political climate in the US.
