If your one-stop answer to everything from the capital of Burma, to the meaning of life comes from a broadband connection and the Google search toolbar, it’s time to read a new report.

There’s been a media buzz about Google’s ‘multi-pronged strategic approach’. (Read the company may be interested in doing more than searching and organising the internet. Light Reading suggests it might be dropping hints, it wants to become a global telecom powerhouse.)

In August this year, there was news that Google had a built its own handset, the Googlephone with a camera, built-in WiFi, 3G and GPS capabilities. That development sent more journalistic phones ringing, with sources saying it was further proof to those who believe Google’s next step is to become a phone and internet service provider.
One of the things fuelling all those rumour mills is that Google is reportedly interested in buying up dark fibre. For the non-geek that’s optical fibre that’s already been laid, but is not yet in use, so it’s ‘dark’ because it’s unlit by use. In the 90s telecom boom, large quantities of optical fibre was laid, much in excess, in fact, than what was required. So when the bust came, near-broke companies were happy to sell dark fibre at throwaway prices. And Google has been quietly buying quite a lot of it up.

So how is Google’s entry going to impact the wireless and telecom sector? Especially in the long term, given that the company’s seen as an information, and infrastructure powerhouse.