BC’s Rural Broadband Projects in Review

WISP Subcommittee

The British Columbia Broadband Association (BCBA) is a group of telecommunications service providers, equipment suppliers and infrastructure constructors committed to building and delivering advanced networking services and infrastructure throughout all regions of British Columbia. In 2014 the BCBA formed a WISP Subcommittee to work on Industry issues and opportunities. Vision Statement The vision of the BCBA is to be recognized as the principal voice, through leadership and advocacy, for the telecommunications and service provider industry in British Columbia.

WISP Sub Committee

Working together for the future of Broadband in BC 67% of funded projects were BCBA members 79% of funding in BC went to BCBA WISP subcommittee members 39 % of the BCBA WISP subcommittee members collaborated

Connecting Canadians Program

9 M

55 M

20 M

7 M 15 M

12 M 6 M

6 M

8 M

3 M

5 M 30 M

British Columbia

27 million awarded to Broadband projects in British Columbia 7 million from the Connecting British Columbia Grant Program 17% to Carriers 83% to local ISP’s 90% of the Provincial Program awards were complimentary to Federal awards.

British Columbia

42 thousand households covered An estimated 47 million in public and private spending on rural broadband connectivity by 2018

British Columbia

Average covered home $950 Average connected home $1200

Video Conferencing

“We have been using tele conferencing but with the speed upgrade will be able to do online meetings also which will enhance the communications during the meetings. For our visitors, tourists and out of town workers the new speed improvements will make a huge difference to their stay in the valley” Sal – Bridge River

Telecommuting

“My wife and I are both able to work from home, fulltime, on our hobby farm in a rural setting. While she works for government and uses the internet for VPN, I provide computer consulting services and project work to clients in Vancouver BC and around the world. I use the internet for technical references on the web, Microsoft Remote Desktop, online team meetings with Skype and JoinMe, and remote access to my servers when I am offsite” Dave - Quesnel

Distant Learning

“I use my Lyttonnet Internet to help out with on-going problems that are happening on my Reserve. I used to use it for my school course, and it helped me finish school a month early and graduate. I also use it for talking to my family that I have no physical contact with, so this really helps a lot. I have to thank you guys Jay Jacobs

Congratulations

Columbia Basin Broadband Corp. Mascon Cable Systems Inc. Base Technology Ltd. ABC Communications Ltd. Minto Communications Society Brooks Bay Cable Corp. Lookieloo.net Sales & Purchases Ltd. Peace Region Internet Society Village of Granisle

MY BC Datacom Ltd. Lytton Area Wireless Society Tatlayoko Think Tank Ltd. Network Integrated Communications Ltd. Beacon Wireless Inc. Conuma Cable Systems Ltd. Twin Island Communications Ltd. GwaiiTel Society TELUS Communications

Northern Development Initiative Trust

Welcome

Sara Hipson, Manager of Business Development

Connecting British Columbia

Program

Sara Hipson

Manager, Business Development

Province and Trust Partnership

Trust Objective:

Strategic investments to increase economic

growth and create more jobs

Provincial Investment

Northern Development

Connecting British Columbia

program

Provincial Objective:

Almost all BC residents having access to

high-speed Internet services by 2021

Rural Connectivity

17 Approved Projects by Region

Kootenays

Thompson-Okanagan

Cariboo

Vancouver Island-

Coast Northeast

Mainland-Southwest

Nechako

Outcomes

$6,898,277

$14,708,741

Connecting British Columbia Program

Funding

Leveraged $

Approved $

Remaining Funds

$2,901,723

$6,898,277

Additional Support for

Businesses and Not-for-

Profits in our Region:

Businesses: • Competitiveness

Consulting Rebate

Not-for-Profits or

Communities: • Economic

Diversification

Infrastructure

• Capital Investment

Analysis Program

Connecting British Columbia

Program

Sara Hipson

Manager, Business Development

Columbia Basin Broadband Corporation

Welcome

Aimee Ambrosone , Chief Operating Officer

Columbia Basin – Boundary Project

Presented by: Aimee

Ambrosone

Date: May 3, 2016

23

Regional Fibre Optic Map

3

4

Project Overview

• ISPs upgrade/expand their infrastructure

• Connection points for rural ISPs to fibre optic

network

• Over 12,000 rural households

• Complete in 2018

26

Participating Internet Service Providers

• ABC Communications • China Creek Internet Services Ltd. • Columbia Wireless Inc. • East Shore Internet Society • FlexiNET Broadband Inc. • Inonoaklin Edgewood Broadband • Kaslo InfoNet Society • Peak Broadband Solutions • SWIFT Internet • Tough Country Communication

Ltd. • Trout Lake BC Internet Society • WINK Wireless • Yahk Area Communications Society

27

Project Funders

• $3.34M from the federal

Connecting Canadians Program

• $2.3M from the provincial

Connecting British Columbia

Program

• Funds from Columbia Basin Trust,

Regional Districts of Central

Kootenay, East Kootenay and

Columbia Shuswap

• Funds from each Internet service

Provider

Lessons Learned

• Common vision

• Regional approach

• Start early

• Build on strengths

• Existing knowledge & additional resources

7

Thank You

GwaiiTel Society

Welcome

Carol Kulesha, Chair of the GwaiiTel Society

Carol Kulesha, Chair

May 3, 2016

OVERVIEW

• GwaiiTel Society – Mandate • Connecting Haida Gwaii

– Village of Queen Charlotte, Port Clements & Masset – Skidegate & Old Massett – Sandspit (Area E) & Tlell (Area D)

• Core Network Upgrade Project Highlights – Project – Challenges – Lessons Learned

• Future Implications

MANDATE

To provide cost-effective, quality Internet access for the people of Haida

Gwaii

Masset Port Clements Queen Charlotte

Old Massett Skidegate

Tlell (Area D) Sandspit (Area E)

Core Network Project Upgrade

• Funding secured – Connecting Canadians, Northern Development Initiative Trust, Gwaii Trust Society (~$10 million)

• Double the size of the radiowave link between Prince Rupert and Old Massett (722Mbps)

• Feeder fibre from Old Massett to Skidegate

• Caching server

Objectives

• Increase availability of broadband services (5 down/1 up X 24/7)

• Delineate ownership/management of island telecommunications

• Change the business model - new revenue, lower prices

• Increase resiliency and reliability

• Prepare for 150% growth

Timeline

Permitting, Network

Documentation (Nov/Dec

2015)

Construction Begins (Jan

2016)

Second Radio Set Installation

(Feb 2016)

Construction Completion (May 2016)

Network Lightup (May –

June 2016)

Project Complete

Who Is Involved?

Challenges & Lessons Learned

• Satisfying multiple stakeholders

• Archeological Regulations

• Project delays & compressed timeline

• Drilling vs. trenching

• Transportation of materials to Haida Gwaii

Where Are We Today?

Thank you!

Network BC

Welcome

Howard Randell, Executive Director of Network BC

NetworkBC: Connectivity BC Broadband Conference

May 2016