Rural Affairs Committee Chooses XplorNet

The City of Ottawa's Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee has adopted the report which recommends choosing XplorNet (i.e. Barrett Xplore Inc.; BXI) as its partner in completing the high-speed Internet coverage of rural Ottawa. The report was approved by the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee yesterday, and goes to full Council on Wednesday (March 28) for what is expected to be final approval to begin negotiations with XplorNet.

According to the report, the Committee had three ISPs to choose from: XplorNet, Storm Internet and Inukshuk Wireless Inc (i.e. Bell's Sympatico Unplugged and Rogers' Portable Internet). XplorNet was seen as the best option, and the City will be contributing $750,000 to the project, pending final approval.

One negative thing the report does mention is that 275-475 homes or businesses still may have to use two-way high-speed satellite access (also available from XplorNet), even after the project is completed. This may be one of the keys to partnering with XplorNet, since their satellite Internet service virtually guarentees 100% rural coverage, and (IIRC) neither Storm nor Bell/Rogers can provide such coverage. It will be interesting to see how many homes will actually fall into the satellite gap, once the project is completed. The report estimates that XplorNet will be able to provide fixed wireless service to 95% of the remaining 40% of rural Ottawa currently unserviced by broadband; so when the project is completed, ~98% of rural Ottawa will have broadband access via wireline (e.g. DSL, cable) or wireless services. That's pretty respectable, and reasonable, coverage.

It will also be interesting to see if Bell/Rogers rise to the competition and continue the deployment of their portable/unplugged Internet services in the area, or will the fact that they are not the City's Preferred Partner result in the them retreating back into the suburbs to continue their battle against each other.

Another question I have is who will finally pick up Arryba's network, which Storm has been operating since Arryba's demise last fall? From my myopic view, I can see either Storm or XplorNet buying up Arryba's former network. Time will tell in this matter, as in all things.

Horizon Technologies provides wi-fi in Carleton Place

It's just come to my attention that Horizon Technologies provides fixed wireless high-speed Internet access in the Carleton Place area. It appears that their website has not be updated since summer 2006. I don't know any more about them than is on their website, but if someone else knows anything more, please share.

Rural Affairs Council To Recommend XplorNet

I've received word that the City's Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee is planning to recommend XplorNet (a.k.a. Barrett Xplore Inc.) as "preferred partner in a Public-Private Partnership (P3) to complete broadband coverage in rural Ottawa" at the upcoming March 22 meeting.

The agenda also reportedly states that the Committee will further recommend that Council "authorize the Deputy City Manager of Planning, Transit, and the Environment, to finalize negotiations and conclude and execute all necessary agreements with Barrett Xplore Inc. for the design, construction, financing and operation of the required broadband infrastructure and service delivery in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Request for Proposals (RFP), the proposal submitted, the subsequent negotiations between the parties, and the framework set out in this report."

As well, I just checked XplorNet's website for the first time in several months and found that they are now providing high-speed fixed wireless Internet access (in addition to two-way satellite service) in the Kars area (i.e. K0A 2E0). Interested parties may want to check XplorNet's website to see if their own postal neighbourhoods are covered, or contact XplorNet directly.

High-Speed Internet in Rural Renfrew County

Another reader of my First Line Road High-Speed Internet Project website just informed me that GoZoom provides fixed wireless high-speed Internet access in rural Renfrew Country. See their website for more details.

New Tower Being Erected In Osgoode?

A reader of my First Line Road High-Speed Internet Project website just informed me that there appears to be a new communications tower being erected in or near Osgoode, on River Road just a few kilometres south of Hurst Marina. The reader suspects it's either a cell tower or a wireless Internet tower, but doesn't know any more than that.

If anyone out there's has any info on this tower, please let me know.