Broadband Connectivity in Canada

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Broadband Connectivity in Canada

• CITEL/AHCIET Broadband Seminar
• San Salvador, El Salvador
• October 2003

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Outline

• What is Broadband?
• Broadband Benefits
• Economic and Social
• Canadian Government Role
• Broadband Pilot Program
• Final Remarks

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What is Broadband?

• A high-capacity two-way link between an end user
  and access network suppliers capable of
  supporting full-motion, interactive video
  applications
• Based on todays technology and applications, a
  minimum two-way, or symmetrical transmission
  speed of 1.5 Mbps per individual user is required

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Speed and Capacity
E-mail / Basic Web Browsing Video
Conferencing E-Learning Telemedicine
Data Rates Access Technologies
1
10
100
1,000
10,000
Kilobits per second
2G
2.5 - 3G
Satellite
Dial Up
Cable Modem/DSL
Fiber
Source ITU, April 2003
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Why is Broadband Important?

• Systematic gap between the quality of life
  enjoyed by Canadians living in or near the urban
  areas of the country and those living in rural
  areas
• Broadband has the potential to bridge the
  economic and social gaps that separate Canadian
  communities
• Strengthening economy
• Improving health care
• Making new learning opportunities

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Geographic Challenges
Population DensitiesOECD Nations

• Relative to other countries Canada has low
  population density
• Rural/remote areas unlikely to be served by
  market forces, as business case non-existent

Korea
Netherlands
Japan
United Kingdom
Germany
Italy
Switzerland
Denmark
France
Ireland
United States
Sweden
Canada
Australia
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
Population per square mile
SOURCE U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of
the Census, Statistical Abstract of the United
States, 1992, Tables 25, 340 and 1359
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Uneven Broadband Access
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Critical to our Success
Broadband
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Making a Difference Tomorrow

• Reducing the socio-economic gap and the
  out-migration
• Developing Information and Communication
  Technology skills
• Harnessing new technologies to improve local
  access to different services
• Providing residents with access to information
  and knowledge

Economic Benefits Making the region or
community more economically self-sufficient
Selling products and services on the
Internet Increasing and diversifying
economic activity Increasing the number of
local businesses using e-commerce
Increasing the tourist industry
Social Benefits Increasing the level of
community services available Enhancing
local quality of life Improving the ability for
residents to express their personal, cultural
and linguistic diversity Providing
residents with the opportunity to participate
in democratic processes
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Canadian Government Role

• National Broadband Task Force was established in
  2001. Recommendations
• Essential that ALL Canadians have access
• Make it equitable and affordable
• Encourage use and content development
• Place highest priority on First Nations, rural
  and remote
• Called for total investment of 4.6B by ALL
  PARTNERS (federal, provincial, territorial,
  municipal governments, and private sector)

• Transport to unserved communities
• Connecting public institutions
• Connecting businesses and residences
• Funding for community champions

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Government Commitment
We will ensure that high-speed broadband access
is available to Canadian communities from coast
to coast to coast by 2005.
Minister of Industry Allan Rock Innovation
Strategy Launch February 12, 2002
"We are accelerating our plan to improve
broadband Internet access for rural communities.
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien June 20, 2002
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Federal Pilot Program Launch
We are making this investment to improve the
quality of life of Canadians, to open doors to
new economic opportunities, to solve problems
that are faced in rural Canada.
Minister of Industry Allan Rock September 5, 2002
Bracebridge (ON), September 5, 2002 Allan Rock,
Minister of Industry Canada, and Andy Mitchell,
Secretary of State Rural Development, FedNor
launched the Broadband for Rural and Northern
Development Pilot Program
http//broadband.gc.ca
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Broadband Pilot Program
A 105M pilot program to assist unserved
communities with a priority given to First
Nations, northern, rural and remote communities.
Objectives

• To provide funding to unserved communities to
  prepare business plans that detail the need for
  broadband services in their communities
• To implement broadband services that will address
  the needs of these communities in the areas of
  education, health and governance
• To create opportunities for learning by sharing
  best practices among communities
• To demonstrate and validate the benefits of
  broadband in unleashing the full innovative
  potential of communities across Canada
• To create new business opportunities,
  domestically and globally, for Canadian ICT
  companies

Broadband The Platform for Innovation and
Inclusion
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Criteria for Deployment

• Respond to community needs
• Private sector should play an active role
• Governments should foster competition and provide
  communities with opportunities to play a
  leadership role
• Provide third-party open access
• Competitive and technologically neutral process
• Sustainable and scaleable
• One-Time Federal Capital Investment

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Program Application Process

• Phase 1
• Business Plan Development Funding
• Community champions prepare a proposal to receive
  a non-repayable contribution of up to 30K (or up
  to a maximum of 50 of costs, whichever is the
  less) to develop a business plan.
• Phase 2
• Business Plan Submission for Implementation
  Funding
• Community champions develop a business plan to
  receive up to a maximum of 50 of costs, to
  implement their business plan
• Selection Process for both Phases
• A competitive process, whereby all submissions
  are assessed by an independent National Selection
  Committee
• Committee recommendations provided to Minister of
  Industry for approval

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Who is Eligible?

• Unserved communities
• currently must have no publicly available
  broadband infrastructure which is capable of
  meeting its broadband needs. Typically, these are
  communities where Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)
  or cable modem access is not already available to
  the public. Priority will be given to First
  Nations, northern, rural and remote communities.
• Community Champions
• Not-for-profit Canadian organizations that will
  commit themselves to act as a community champion

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Program Timeline
( anticipated date)
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Round 1, Phase I Results

• 89 proposals covering
• 1149 communities including
• 156 First Nations Communities
• 2,434,000 Total Program Funding

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Round 1, Phase II

• 83 business plans received covering
• 1223 communities including
• 162 First Nations Communities
• 416 M Total Project Costs
• 128 M Total Program Funding Requested

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Round 2, Phase I

• 65 proposals covering
• 906 communities including
• 110 First Nations Communities
• 1.77 M Total Program Funding

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More Info

• About the Program
• Program Guide
• Maps
• Broadband Distribution in Canada
• Satellite Coverage in Canada
• Resource Centre
• News and Events
• Resources for Communities
• FAQs
• NBTF Archives
• Presentations

Website http//broadband.gc.ca
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Industry Canada www.ic.gc.ca
Connecting Canadians www.connect.gc.ca
Consumer Connection www.strategis.gc.ca
Strategis www.strategis.gc.ca
Electronic Commerce www.e-com.ic.gc.ca
Dot Force www.dotforce.org
broadband.gc.ca
Innovation Strategy www.innovationstrategy.gc.ca
Broadband broadband.gc.ca Smart
Communities www.smartcommunities.ic.gc.ca