ADnet works with communities in the Northeast Superior region of the Algoma District to improve broadband service, cellular coverage and backbone connectivity in the region.

The CTP provided basic cellular coverage in the communities and along Hwy 101 and Hwy 17. ADnet is currently cooperating with Thunder Bay’s North West Ontario Innovation Centre (NWOIC) on the Hwy 17 Corridor Project (17CP) to close some of the existing cellular coverage gaps along Hwy 17 between Thunder Bay and Sault Ste. Marie.

ADnet also partnered with NetCentral to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for multiple cellular and broadband projects including cellular service along the Hwy 129 corridor from Chapleau to Thessalon. This RFP closes on April 30, 2008. This is ADnet’s third attempt to get a private sector vendor to provide coverage along this route.

Subsequently, the project was not approved due to the large size of the subsidy that was requested. This subproject is on hold pending changes in technical or funding circumsatances

Concurrent with the 17CTP work, ADnet drafted documentation, know as a Request for Expression of Interest (REOI), to support a project leading to added cellular coverage:

When ADnet received word of Xplornet’s intent to withdraw fixed wireless service from Hornepayne and Wawa, we worked with Mayor Gene Belanger of Hornepayne and CAO Chris Wray of Wawa to add a broadband and a backbone component to the REOI.

ADnet issued the REOI to the industry on 23 Apr 08 with a closing date of May 16, 2008. A copy of the REOI documentation may be downloaded from http://www.adnetalgoma.ca/reoi_page.htm

Funding for this project was rejected on behalf of FedNor by NWOIC. Without FedNor funding, the project was not feasible.

Activities in the North Algoma area are now reliant on Broadband Canada and Deferral Account implementation.

Questions concerning the REOI or any other ADnet activity may be sent to adnetinfo@adnetalgoma.ca

W.J.J. (Wilf) Lefresne

Executive Director

Algoma District Community Network (ADnet)