ADnet Projects
Updated 29 Aug 11
Project Overviews
ADnet has divided the area of Algoma
into four main regions for the purpose of project development.
These areas are:
a.
North Algoma
b.
Central Algoma
c.
East Algoma
d.
West Sault
DOWNLOAD - ADMA Meeting ADnet Briefing PDF Format While some of the information in this presentation is dated, it provides a good over view of ICT activities in the area.
ADnet is constantly reviewing the ICT status in each region with
the stakeholders, the funding agencies and the private sector vendors to keep
up-to-date on ICT in the regions. There are active ADnet projects at various
stages of development and implementation in each of the areas.
North Algoma
(includes North Sault)
The most recent major project in this region was the Hwy 17 corridor
cellular and broadband
project. TBayTel, who call the undertaking the Regional In-fill or RIF, implemented
the project. It covered the Hwy 1 7 corridor from Thunder Bay
to Heyden and included the North Sault sub-project.
Tbaytel completed the Algoma District portion of
this project in August, 2011.
The
RIF project resulted in the installation of new cell sites at Sanigra
Lake, Michipicoten, Goulais
River and Heyden as
well as the installation of Canopy fixed wireless broadband (high speed
Internet) hardware on the cell sites at Hawke
Junction, Batchawana, Goulais
River, Bellevue,
Heyden and Searchmont.
This Tbaytel "with the power of Rogers" project increased greatly the cell phone coverage and well
as increasing substantially the number of resident able to receive broadband
(high speed Internet) service. It fills in the gaps and allows many residents
along the Hwy 17 corridor outside DSL or Cable Internet range to access
broadband (high speed Internet) service.
An additional project called the North Algoma Cellular and Broadband
Gap
Filler for areas along Hwy 631 and Hwy 101 did not receive project development
funding from FedNor. ADnet placed this project in abeyance due to this lack of
funding but is prepared to re-open it if funding becomes available.
Bell did complete a part of this project without public subsidy in September 2010
with activation of DSL service in Hornepayne.
Central Algoma
There are two cellular and broadband projects active in other
regions that have a direct impact on Central Algoma
a.
The North Sault area covering the Unorganized
Townships along the Hwy 17 corridor from the city to the Montreal River is part
of the now completed TBayTel RIF project; see North Algoma area above for more
details;
and
b.
The Echo Bay area covering parts of
Macdonald,
Meredith, Aberdeen Additional and
Aberdeen Townships along the Hwy 638 corridor is part of the East
Algoma project.
Bell activated two new HSPA cell sites at Desbarats in December
2011 and at Echo Bay/Hwy 638 intersection in July, 2011. These
provide both enhanced cell phone coverage and
broadband
(high speed Internet) using the HSPA technology.
ADnet and NetCentral are working together on this project. The
original East Algoma Project aimed to improve cellular and broadband
coverage along the Hwy 638 corridor, all the townships on St. Joseph Island, the
Basswood Lake/Hwy 129 area and the Serpent River vicinity.
When the
Broadband Canada and Deferral Account announcements effectively froze broadband
funding applications, the project scope was adjusted to a allow it to proceed as
a cellular project. The project proposed to the funding agency is based on 3G
HSPA technology which will allow broadband as well as voice connectivity.
NOHFC announced approval of funding for the Bell portion of the project on 13
May 11. As noted in the Central Algoma information above Bell activated two new
HSPA cell sites at Desbarats in December 2011 and at Echo Bay/Hwy 638
intersection in July, 2011.
When the Bell cell sites at Bruce Mines, Desbarats
and Laird are considered along with the Rogers sites at
Bruce Mines and Laird, there is quite extensive HSPA
broadband
broadband
(high speed Internet) to a large portion of St. Joseph Island.
The above project is separate from the Bell Deferral Account program.
Information about the Bell Deferral Account program for this area can be found
at the Deferral Account Implementation Schedule
page.
Bell is also in the process building a new HSPA cell site the Spanish
,ON area. Bell will use private funds to build this site.
On 14 Jun 11, NOHFC confirmed funding additional sites in the East Algoma
area.
The plan calls for two (2) cell sites near Elliott Lake on Hwy 108 (one north of
the city and one near the airport) and two (2) sites on Hwy 17 near Spanish and
Sagamok First Nation. These sites will be built and operated by Rogers and are
scheduled to come on-line by the end of 2013.They
will be 3G/4G HSPA capable which means they can provide both voice and broadband
service.
These announcements culminate the collaborative efforts of ADnet, Blue Sky Net
and NetCentral to improve the overall cellular coverage in their respective
regions . ADnet thanks NetCentral for acting as the coordinating lead CBN on the
project over the past 4 years.
South
Algoma/West Sault
(Project
on hold due to Broadband Canada program)
ADnet expanded the West Sault project to include areas
of the East Algoma region not addressed in the responses received to the
original RFP for that area. To differentiate between the established East
Algoma project and the new project, ADnet designated the new project South
Algoma/West Sault or SAWS.
The previous West Sault project covered the area west from Town
Line to Gros Cap, Prince Township, Denis Township (Red Rock),
Nokomis
Beach/Sunnyside, the airport area and the
‘Points’ area south of the airport.
This project is also on hold due to the Broadband Canada and Deferral Account
activities. ADnet is prepared to re-activate this project if there is
still a need after the Broadband Canada and Deferral Account activities
are complete and funds become available. Additional information about the SAWS
project is available at this link.
Information about the Bell Deferral Account program for this area can be found
at the Deferral Account Implementation Schedule
page.
Vianet is now providing fixed wireless service in this area. Information is available on the
ADnet in Algoma blog site
Cockburn Island Township
ADnet has been assisting Cockburn Island Township (CIT) on an
informally basis over the past 3 years with their efforts to regain the cellular
telephone coverage to the Island that was lost with the conversion from analogue
to digital technology. In the spring of 2009, ADnet assisted CIT with a
successful
application to the Build Canada Fund - Community Component (BCF-CC).
ADnet also assisted CIT in the preparation of a
funding application for LAMBAC CDFC and NOHFC for addition project funding.
In fall of 2009, CIT received application approval from LAMBAC and Stage One
approval from NOHFC .
In Jan 2010, CIT received oral approval that the BCF-CC funds had been approved.
CIT conducted a RFP based procurement process in the spring of 2010
and selected Quattra SCS of Sault Ste. Marie to construct a 100 foot
self-supporting tower and install cellular repeating equipment. Additional
funding was approve by NOHFC in late 2010.
This project is now operational and improved cellular coverage is now
available on the Island.