In its endeavor to help people across the world to connect to the Internet, Facebook has recently hired former Google Fiber general manager Kevin Lo. The appointment of Lo is the most recent evidence that major tech companies in the United States are working for more control over the Internet's plumbing.
In his new role as Facebook's Director of Infrastructure Connectivity and Investments, Lo will be dealing with several external partnerships related to connectivity endeavors of the social media giant, Recode reported. He will be looking after projects like the recent fiber-optic cable deal pertaining between Facebook and Microsoft to Terragraph that aims to provide improved connectivity in densely populated urban areas.
However, unlike Google Fiber, Facebook will not invest money to become an Internet service provider. While Google Fiber has spent significant amounts during the first six years, a Facebook spokesperson clarified that hiring Lo does not suggest that the social media giant desires to market Internet or cable.
Moreover, Facebook told the media outlet that Lo will not be working on Free Basics. Though the company said it does not have any plans to start its own ISP, wireless tech like Terragraph nodes or even drone-delivered Internet will somehow require connecting to a backbone, the Wall Street Journal reported.
A recent Facebook post confirmed stated that Lo will help the company in shaping their strategy and investments with partners with a view to develop wireless technologies as well as ecosystems for improving global connectivity.
According to the report, Lo served the telecom and investing sector for a decade before joining Google in 2010. The search engine giant hired him as the first manager for Google Fiber, the Mountain View tech titan's emerging experiment in broadband networks under its former CFO Patrick Pichette.
For five years, Lo was at the helm of the Google division and headed expansion operations in its initial three cities. Despite initial hitches, Fiber developed from a nascent experiment to a full-fledged business that aims to compete with the existing major cable companies.
His colleagues describe Lo as a cool and competent manager. He left Fiber last year soon after Google restructured itself into Alphabet.
Watch how Facebook plans to provide improved connectivity in urban areas below: