Stimulating broadband expansion

EORN logoLast December, the Eastern Ontario Warden’s Caucus (EOWC), a group of eleven Eastern Ontario Counties and two Single-Tier municipalities, released its final report on the building of its Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN) broadband project.

When the project launched construction in 2010, about a third of the region’s population had either no internet access or only had dial-up access to the internet.

EORN now includes 5,500 km of new and existing fibre optic cable, with 160 new access points for Internet Service Providers, delivering high-speed Internet services for residents and businesses through wired, wireless or satellite technology, depending on the best fit for the area. EORN negotiated with private sector service providers to increase their coverage areas, bandwidth and speeds to help bridge the typical urban-rural price gap.

The Eastern Ontario Regional Network has expanded broadband access to cover 99 per cent of rural Eastern Ontario – surpassing its goal of expanding access of at least 1.5 Mbps to 95 per cent of the region:

  • Nearly 90 per cent – some 415,000 homes and businesses – can access DSL or fixed wireless internet services with speeds of at least 10 Mbps, exceeding EORN’s target of 85 per cent.
  • An additional 12,000 households can access internet speeds ranging from 6 to 10 Mbps with these technologies.
  • The remaining households can access these same speeds through improved satellite services, available at special pricing for anyone in rural Eastern Ontario.

Users can check an availability map to determine which service providers are available in various parts of the EOWC region.

EORN has now released its 10 year “Digital Strategy” – a roadmap to help it keep pace with changing needs and to help stimulate residents’, business’ and public service adoption of the network.

With the completion of the network infrastructure, EORN is shifting gears to ensure the region reaps the benefits of this important investment. To create a digitally connected region, Eastern Ontario needs not just broadband access, but also the skills and capacity to use technology effectively. The Digital Strategy offers a road map for the region to embrace the economic and social benefits of internet-based tools to create strong, successful communities.

The regional leadership has set out goals to be achieved by working in cooperation with local and national businesses, economic development groups, non-profit groups and public service agencies.

GOAL 1: Increase User Uptake
Working with private and public sector partners, EORN will promote the adoption of high-speed internet services and digital technology across Eastern Ontario by residents, businesses and public institutions.

GOAL 2: Improve Broadband Access
Driven by the perpetual demand for higher speed and more capacity, EORN will leverage the existing broadband network in Eastern Ontario to expand and enhance fixed and mobile broadband access throughout the region.

GOAL 3: Demonstrate Technology Leadership
EORN will investigate, develop and promote the adoption of new technologies that support wealth creation, job growth and educational opportunities.

It is encouraging to see EOWC work to drive both sides of the equation for digital adoption: supply and demand. As readers of these pages know, too often there is a singular focus on the supply side, without regard to measures to increase demand.

Now that EORN has completed its work to ensure that users can access the internet, the communities are working on measures to leverage the ubiquitous infrastructure.

Take the time to read the digital strategy executive summary [pdf, 12 pages], if you don’t have time for the main Digital Strategy document [pdf, 24 pages] itself. EORN is seeking 2 additional members for its volunteer board. “Applications are being sought from qualified and experienced persons in the areas of finance, legal, economic development and technology” with “an interest in the economic and technological advancement of Eastern Ontario”. Applications are due on Friday, March 5.

One of the solutions providers powering EORN is Xplornet, Canada’s largest telecommunications provider focused solely on rural Canadians. Xplornet president Allison Lenehan will be speaking at The 2015 Canadian Telecom Summit, taking place June 1-3 in Toronto.

The theme for The 2015 Canadian Telecom Summit is “Hyper Connectivity: Shaping Personal & Business Digital Relationships.” How do we bring the benefits of a digital economy to all Canadians, rural and urban, young and old, across the full spectrum of household incomes? Keynote speakers and panelists will address these points giving you a chance to hear about service deployment, what is in store for next generation business models, and underlying all of this, the technologies that continue to drive the industry forward.

Have you registered yet?

1 thought on “Stimulating broadband expansion”

  1. kirsten burnett

    this is something that needs to be brought to the attention of the general public. These digital strategies will affect just about everyone. Thank you so much for sharing this. I will surely try and forward this information to my peers

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