Staff
TBayTel announced plans this week to build a new third-generation (3G) High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) wireless network across Northern Ontario, with the upgraded network to be deployed in Thunder Bay, Kenora, and Dryden this year, and then Fort Frances and Rainy River District sometime in 2011.
“Phase One will include Thunder Bay, Kenora, and Dryden,” said Barry Streib, director of corporate relations for TBayTel.
“Then after that, the other regional communities and the highway corridors will done throughout the remainder of 2010 and into 2011,” he added.
“I can’t give you a specific date or time for when Fort Frances and the Rainy River District, but the work will be ongoing from that time on,” Streib noted, speculating it could be the summer of 2011 although other factors could delay it or make it earlier.
“Rest assured, we’re going to be blasting away and getting the work done, and by 2011, we’re going to have a brand new network out there for everybody,” he pledged.
“This is really good news,” he stressed. “You have to understand how good this is—it takes our Northern Ontario to a level playing field with all of the major centres in Canada.”
3G HSPA is the most widely-deployed mobile broadband voice and data technology in the world today, and the new network will provide customers in Northern Ontario with an advanced mobile wireless platform for the future.
“With this new network, TBayTel will close the technology gap with other regions of the province and Canada,” Don Campbell, president and CEO of TBayTel, said in a press release.
“Our customers will benefit from improved access to high-speed wireless voice and data services, a broad base of handset technology and smartphones, and increased capabilities for high-speed mobile data,” he noted.
“Delivering competitively-priced advanced telecom solutions to Northern Ontario is a key corporate end for our company,” Campbell added.
“This investment will deliver increased value to our stakeholders in Thunder Bay and region—for our customers, our employees, and communities in Northern Ontario.”
“The social and economic implications of an initiative such as this provide clear evidence of our commitment to, and understanding of, the north and its telecommunications needs,” said Michael Power, chair of the TBayTel Municipal Services Board.
“Our success as a company is dependent upon the success of Northern Ontario, and our new 3G HSPA network demonstrates TBayTel’s commitment,” he noted.
“We live here, we work here, and we are very proud to be investing in its future,” Power remarked.
In related news, Rogers and TBayTel announced yesterday a strategic business relationship that will extend HSPA service and enhanced customer products across Northern
Ontario.
Rogers and TBayTel customers will have access to TBayTel’s HSPA network from just west of Sault Ste. Marie to the Manitoba border, connecting users with 3G download speeds to communities and major highway corridors covering an area of close to 300,000 sq. km for the first time.
The strategic business relationship will give Rogers and TBayTel customers expanded coverage with enhanced mobility features across Northern Ontario.
In addition, TBayTel customers will have access to Canada’s most reliable network, mobile content, and the latest handsets from both companies, and will benefit from being able to bundle services with other TBayTel offerings.
“This is another example of Rogers forming strategic regional relationships that better connect our customers while improving the efficiencies of our organization,” said Darryl Levy, president of Rogers Communications (Western Canada).
“TBayTel’s new network and relationship with Rogers will provide all customers greater access to the latest in handset technology and to a full range of mobility services, including high-speed mobile data and world-wide roaming,” noted Campbell.
“The integration of Rogers services and technology will deliver improved value and customer experience to our customers and other stakeholders throughout the region.”
The agreements are subject to approval by the appropriate regulatory authorities.
