The appointment of Dennis Kish to replace Milo Medin as head of Google's gigabit network effort raises questions about the network operations experience of its leadership.

Jason Meyers, Executive Editor

September 17, 2014

2 Min Read
Former Qualcomm Exec to Head Google Fiber

Google Fiber has named a new boss with a telecom industry pedigree to take the helm as it continues to pursue its gigabit network expansion.

The company has tapped Dennis Kish, late of Qualcomm Inc. (Nasdaq: QCOM), to lead its fiber effort, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Kish replaces Milo Medin, who will remain a Google vice president for access services and adviser to the Google Fiber team, says the report.

Kish joined Google Fiber Inc. just three months ago as a VP, after more than three years as senior VP and GM of Qualcomm's MEMS technology division, according to his LinkedIn profile. The management maneuver comes just five months after another Qualcomm alum, Craig Barratt, was promoted from the Google ranks to be senior VP of access and energy and oversee Google Fiber. Barratt was president of Qualcomm Atheros as the result of Qualcomm's acquisition of Atheros Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: ATHR), where he was CEO.

Get the latest updates on the Gigabit Cities trend by visiting Light Reading's broadband/FTTx content channel.

Google is so far keeping mum on the moves. Clearly, both Barratt and Kish have deep broadband technology expertise, but neither appear to have experience in network operations or broadband service strategy -- which is notable, since Medin was one of the founders of the cable Internet joint venture @Home Network and the CTO of one-time national broadband hopeful M2Z Networks prior to joining Google.

Despite the general prominence and brand recognition of Google, pressure is mounting from a broad range of entities deploying gigabit networks -- ranging from telecom and cable operators to municipalities and utilities. While Google Fiber has three active gigabit cities and has earmarked nine more for deployment, gigabit deployment in smaller towns around the US is continuing apace -- often with unique business models in areas very close to Google Fiber territory. (See Connecticut Cities Crowdsource Gigabit Nets and North KC Says Free Gigabit for All.}

So the new leadership developments for Google Fiber could be nothing more than a routine shuffling of the ranks -- or they could be evidence Google views all the activity in the ultra high-speed networking realm as a threat to its plans for gigabit dominance.

— Jason Meyers, Senior Editor, Utility Communications/IoT, Light Reading

About the Author(s)

Jason Meyers

Executive Editor

Jason Meyers joined the editorial staff of Light Reading in 2014 with more than 20 years of experience covering a broad range of business sectors. He is responsible for tracking and reporting on developments in the Internet of Things (IoT), Gigabit Cities and utility communications areas. He previously was Executive Editor of Entrepreneur magazine, overseeing all editorial operations, assignments and editorial staff for the monthly business publication. Prior to that, Meyers spent 15 years on the editorial staff of the former Telephony magazine, including eight years as Editor in Chief.

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