High Speed Access (Broadband Project in the City of KL)

Updated February 2008

TAG is pleased to be coordinating the Broadband Expansion Project on behalf of the City of Kawartha Lakes. A contract has been awarded to Xplornet, a division of Barrett Xplore Inc., to provide broadband coverage in rural areas of the City where high-speed Internet service was previously unavailable. These areas are known as the “broadband gap” areas. It is anticipated that the full network will be operational by June 2008.

Technology and network coverage

Xplornet will use two complementary technologies to provide 100% coverage in the current broadband gap areas – fixed wireless and satellite. Both technologies deliver urban-like quality and speeds at affordable prices.

Xplornet will be providing fixed wireless service from approximately 6 tower locations by the end of December 2007. After the full network is constructed by the summer of 2008, it is anticipated that 78% of the dwellings within the current broadband gap will be within the fixed wireless coverage area.

Fixed wireless does have some coverage limitations as it is a line-of-sight technology. Therefore, a small percentage of homes or businesses may not be able to receive a fixed wireless signal due to obstructions or topography. Xplornet will offer its state-of-the-art satellite broadband to residents who are unable to access the fixed wireless network.

About Xplornet’s high-speed Internet service

• Fast - fixed wireless speeds can reach up to 5.0 Mbps1 which is equivalent to 185 times faster than dial-up. Satellite service speeds reach up to 2.0 Mbps2, which is equivalent to 75 times faster than dial-up.
• Affordable - fixed wireless service packages start from $29.99 per month3 and high- speed packages (1.5 Mbps or above) from $44.99 per month.4 Satellite service plans start from $54.99 per month.5
• No phone line required
• Serviced by local dealers
• Free 24/7/365 customer and technical support
• Always on, always ready
• 30-day money-back guarantee

City of Kawartha Lakes residents will also receive Xplornet promotional offers in accordance with the agreement. Once the formal agreement with BXI is signed and the network is operational, details will be available from local dealers.

How can I obtain more information?

In the weeks ahead, periodic project updates will be available on both the City and Xplornet Web sites.

If you are interested in more information, you can:
• contact Lynda Rickard, Executive Director of the Technology Alliance Group for Kawartha Lakes at (705) 878-9261.
• visit www.Xplornet.com . If you would like to be referred to a dealer in your area once fixed wireless service becomes available, please complete the no-obligation Sign up Form located on the Xplornet Web site. Xplornet will also be expanding its dealer network in the City of Kawartha Lakes area.
• call the Xplornet Customer Care Centre at 1-866-841-6001.

Project funding and partner selection

Addressing the broadband gap has been a longstanding priority of the City of Kawartha Lakes as this vital infrastructure is essential to support ongoing economic development. The business community and City residents have consistently indicated that addressing this key necessity should be a priority for civic leadership. In its 2007 budget, the Government of Ontario announced one-time funding assistance for municipalities that were in a high state of readiness to implement and sustain broadband capability under its Rural Connections …The Ontario Municipal Rural Broadband Partnership Program. This program is administered by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) with support from the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services and the Ministry of Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Thirty municipalities applied for funding under the program. The City of Kawartha Lakes was one of 18 successful applicants, due to the ongoing focus placed upon broadband and the preparatory work that had already been done both by City leaders and community organizations, particularly our non profit organization, the Technology Alliance Group.

The City of Kawartha Lakes will receive up to $243,378 in funding from OMAFRA. City Council has approved an investment of $550,000 which is less than the $800,000 anticipated requirement according to initial project estimates. Xplornet will invest $3.9 million in capital, and in total will spend $11.0 million in the City during the first five years of the project including over $3.0 million in expenditures to drive sales and awareness.

BXI was selected to be the partner to build and operate the network at the conclusion of a rigorous, competitive bidding process. Their submission met all mandatory provincial program requirements for this project as outlined in the program guidelines which can be obtained from the OMAFRA Web site. BXI’s submission also attained the highest total point score. It is anticipated that the formal agreement will be signed shortly.

About Barrett Xplore

Headquartered in New Brunswick, Barrett Xplore Inc. (BXI) is Canada’s largest and fastest growing wireless broadband service provider. Through its two service offerings – fixed wireless and satellite – the company delivers fast, affordable, reliable high-speed Internet service on a national basis with a focus on rural, remote and suburban communities that are un-served or underserved by other providers. BXI has already successfully deployed fixed wireless in many regions of the country, covering 300 rural communities and over 350,000 homes and businesses. Combined with its satellite service, the company is already providing broadband to tens of thousands of customers across Canada.

1. 5.0 Mbps refers to the fixed wireless Xtreme package.

2. 2.0 Mbps refers to the satellite KaBoom package.

3. $29.99 per month refers to the fixed wireless Zip package.

4. $44.99 per month refers to the fixed wireless Zoom package.

5. $54.99 per month refers to the satellite KaZam package.

Local Broadband History

TAG, was a member of the Eastern Ontario Broadband Coalition and it was involved with the Eastern Ontario Broadband GAP Analysis conducted through the support of the Eastern Ontario Development Fund. Excerpts from that analysis and the determined GAP for the City of Kawartha Lakes are posted below:

An update of this analysis in 2006 indicates a 28 % improvement in Eastern Ontario, but is not necessarily a representative of the City of Kawartha Lakes. To view the full GAP Analysis, go to: www.eodp.ca/project.asp
TAG believes that we must all talk, work, and most importantly plan together in order to make the best combined use of everyone’s available resources.

TAG is working to provide all our businesses and communities with the best connectivity possible.

Our community is suffering a potentially unnecessary economic disadvantage, denied access to the province’s online economy.
We want:
  • Level playing field
  • To bridge the digital divide
  • Allow government, educators and health care givers to share and deliver information and services farther, faster and more economically than ever before.
  • Fair and open access to all communities and to the local service providers
  • We want this competitive tool at equal rates
Examples of use:
  • Businesses in our community that function in several locations need to connect them through high-speed Internet. The connection will allow them to reduce administrative and travel costs, while at the same time increasing the amount of time available for staff to spend serving clients and generating new business.
  • Canadian Tire depends heavily on the use of e-learning for staff training. They have over 260 courses that staff can take and access to broadband services makes this process much more effective.
  • There is a huge focus on making government transactions available on the Internet. Self-service government won’t work without high speed.
  • Information is the most common reason for visiting websites and portals, but the process is painful without high speed.
  • High-speed will open the door to Virtual City Hall, where people can participate in local government issues from home, at a time that is convenient to them.
  • Businesses expand to establish themselves specifically because of the level of service available in the community
  • Businesses invest in a community that shows a spirit of optimism and is committed to it’s own growth.
  • Deliver valuable service to people of the community in areas such as healthcare, online learning, electronic commerce, and governments online.
  • The City of Kawartha Lakes can feel like they are part and parcel of the rest of the world.
  • Connectivity relieves the negative impact of isolation.
  • Better connectivity can improve the lives of citizens and at the same time lighten the load on city hall.
  • Taxpayers will be able to get the information they need 24/7.
  • City staff will have more time available to help citizens and businesses with other problems less routine.
  • Fees to register at sports facilities can be collected on line, and availability of programs confirmed.
  • In virtual classrooms activities and learning experiences of teachers and students from all across Canada can be shared.
  • A face to face business meeting that could take up days of travel and thousands of dollars of expense to hold in person could be held over high-speed Internet, with only an hour or two invested on the part of each participant and no travel costs incurred.
 

 

 

Back to Home Page
Technology Alliance Group
189 Kent Street West Suite 215 Lindsay, Ontario. K9V 5G6 Canada
Phone: 705-878-9261 | 800-407-6419 Fax: 705-878-8630
Email Us