Alberta Supernet Project Discussion Thread

[Barry]

The Alberta SuperNet project is a Government of Alberta initiative to build a broadband network linking 4,700 libraries, schools, hospitals and provincial government offices in 422 communities province-wide in 2004. In addition, commercial service providers in areas which currently do not have high-speed connectivity options will be able to access Alberta SuperNet at current market rates, bringing competitive broadband services to most Alberta businesses and residences, whether they are in rural or urban areas.

The Government of Alberta is investing a maximum of $193 million over three years to build the sustainable and scaleable network. As prime contractor, Bell West is building the Extended Area, which connects 395 smaller communities, and investing a minimum of $102 million to build the Base Area, linking Alberta's 27 largest communities. Axia SuperNet Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Axia NetMedia Corp. has a 10-year renewable contract from the Government of Alberta to operate and manage access to the Alberta SuperNet.

Alberta SuperNet is just one of thousands of initiatives supported through the Alberta Lottery Fund. The Alberta Lottery Fund is made up of the government's share of net revenues from VLTs, slot machines, and ticket lotteries. These revenues total more than $1 billion each year, and are used to support volunteer, public and community-based initiatives across the province.

Bell Mobility will play a major roll in establishing this network. Bell West Inc. has finalized its contractor team for completing the build of Alberta SuperNet's Extended Area network. As the prime contractor for Alberta SuperNet, Bell has hired 27 contractors across the province. The contractors were selected through open, competitive bid processes.

The Extended Area is the 11,000-kilometre portion of Alberta SuperNet connecting 395 smaller communities and in which the Government of Alberta is investing $193 million to build.

Bell's contractors are completing critical activities in and around Alberta SuperNet communities to ready the network for operation. Key activities include building:

- 307 network point-of-presence facilities;
- network access connections to 1,777 libraries, schools, hospitals and
provincial and municipal government offices in 402 communities;
- 3,728 kilometres of fibre-optic cable between Extended Area
communities.

_________________
Start Posting for Cool Prizes!

[Barry]

So the question is it worth it? Is ther Alberta government's attempt to spur growth and encourage innovation by connecting Alberta to the internet a good way to spend our surplus? Stay tuned for more discussion.

_________________
Start Posting for Cool Prizes!

[GeraldV]

Well it was my impression the supernet is an attempt to 'diversify' the economy in the long run due to the 'innovation' and 'opportunities' the technology should bring. here's an article related to diversifiation of the albertan economy. seems we are going the way of the call center. a sign of things to come?

Dell Increases Employment Projection For Edmonton Customer Contact Centre

Dell announced that it anticipates hiring 750 people to staff its Edmonton Customer Contact Centre in Alberta, Canada by July 2005, a 50 percent increase from its initial projection.

Dell's decision to increase employment since announcing the customer contact centre in July 2004 is a result of the company's successful Edmonton startup and an increased scope of work, which now includes sales and customer care functions. Dell, Canada's No. 1 provider of desktop and notebook computers, initially expected to hire about 500 people to staff the Edmonton facility.

Dell's aggressive hiring plan, which will add 50 percent to its current Edmonton headcount of almost 500, is complemented by a partnership with the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology to provide training to Dell employees. That training is provided at no cost to the employee.

The Customer Contact Centre in Edmonton provides technical support, customer care and sales to customers throughout Canada and the Americas.

[GeraldV]

it seems Bell wants to continue this supernet idea elsewhere with the same prupose....

Michael Sabia, President and CEO of Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE), introduced Bell Canada's new Connected to Communities investment program. Speaking at the Economic Club of Toronto this afternoon, Mr. Sabia said the new program represents a tighter focus and deeper commitment by Bell on building strong, healthy and vibrant communities across Canada.

With the new Connected to Communities program, Bell will build upon the company's existing corporate giving initiatives to focus on projects that encourage economic development and the strengthening of social foundations at the community level, with an emphasis on initiatives that benefit children and youth. The company also intends to seek out projects that have been successful at the local level and help extend them to other communities across Canada.

As part of Bell's new investment program, the company has committed to increase its annual community investment budget by approximately 40% from $19 million this year to approximately $26 million in 2007.

[dellite]

After realising that the Supernet project was nowhere near completion despite Jan. 2005 as the completion date, The Government of Alberta, Axia NetMedia Corporation and Bell Canada jointly announced that they are in the 'final' stage of completing the roll out and commissioning of the Alberta SuperNet.

Under the completion and commissioning plan, all the rural communities in the Extended Area Network will be connected by April 30, 2005 which will enable local service providers to buy bandwidth on the Alberta SuperNet and offer high-speed commercial services including Internet access, to rural retail customers. Additionally, the vast majority of the government, health, library and education facilities in the Base Area Network and Extended Area Network will be connected by June 30, 2005 with the total network being completed by September 30, 2005 (Nine months overdue.)

Axia and Bell have entered into agreements that will ensure the rapid completion of the overdue Alberta SuperNet.

[Barry]

The Government of Alberta has announced new agreements with Bell Canada and Axia SuperNet Ltd. that will ensure successful long-term development of the Alberta SuperNet for rural Albertans. The new agreements provide appropriate focus on service delivery, create cost savings for government and assure rural Albertans and service providers of quality, reliable SuperNet operation.

Restructuring and Government Efficiency Minister Luke Ouellette said, "With SuperNet nearly complete, this was the logical time to review and restructure the operating agreement and make certain government's investment is fully leveraged to ensure the success and development of the rural network. Our new agreements provide strong incentive for Bell and Axia to maximize use of SuperNet in rural Alberta."

Under the new agreements, the government will have full rights of use for the high-speed broadband network. Bell Canada retains ownership of the fibre and wireless infrastructure with government having the option of assuming ownership at the end of the contract term. All of the original SuperNet development principles such as promoting competition and rural development, and ensuring that affordable, timely service is available to rural Alberta are maintained in these new agreements that become effective upon completion of the SuperNet in September. Costs for Internet service providers, government, schools, health facilities and libraries remain safeguarded.

The majority of Alberta's schools, hospitals, libraries and government offices are now connected to SuperNet. Through Internet service providers, SuperNet will have the capacity to serve more than 86 per cent of Alberta's population, making SuperNet a key factor in rural Alberta's social and economic development.

_________________
Start Posting for Cool Prizes!

[Mod]

Congrats on being a year behind schedule, but the Alberta govts attempt on spearheading diversification in the province is complete. The high-speed SuperNet is now built and operational in thousands of facilities in 429 communities across Alberta, making the province more connected than ever before. All Alberta SuperNet communities are connected to the network, and ready to carry Internet service. Many of the 4,200 learning and health facilitiesand government offices connected across the province are already using the network for high-speed services such as video conferencing.

Bell Canada is now shifting its focus to developing applications that bring to life the capabilities of this world-class network. "Utilizing video conferencing for distance learning and remote medical instruction and monitoring are two examples of how Bell delivers applications over the SuperNet that make a difference in the lives of Albertans," says Stephen Wetmore, Group President, National Markets for Bell. "Bell will continue to leverage our extensive IP experience to translate the potential of the SuperNet into opportunities for Albertans."

Through Internet service providers, SuperNet now has the capacity to bring high-speed access to more than 86 per cent of Alberta's population, making SuperNet a key factor in rural Alberta's social and economic development.

_________________
Join the forum & win a free iMate Jaq!

[GeraldV]

I know supernet is more for 'hooking people' up to the internet. long terms plans/hopes from the govt were to increase 'productivity, or perhaps even encourage diversification, etc.,'. The only thing is, what about basic economics? IF it costs more to run on supernet than dial up or satellite hook up why bother? Sounds like tons of money for infrastructure that for some small towns is too expensive to even use.