Duane Hicks
Fort Frances soon will be experiencing “the next evolution in broadband technology.”
Tbaytel will begin building a new fibre optic network here early in the New Year, with expected service delivery to customers in late 2017, Tbaytel president and CEO Dan Topatigh announced yesterday at a press conference at the Civic Centre.
“So with Tbaytel Fibre, residents and business owners will be able to experience the benefit of having reliable, high-speed Internet, digital TV, landline telephone, and security services all from a single provider,” he explained.
“With Tbaytel Fibre will come choice, selection, value, and certainly quality, and we’re proud to be providing that network right here in Fort Frances,” Topatigh added.
Tbaytel Fibre will provide more bandwidth (the amount of data that can be moved across the Internet in a given amount of time).
The higher the bandwidth, the faster your upload and download speeds.
This, in turn, improves everything from video calling, HD streaming, and online gaming to digital media sharing, photo and music downloading, and social networking.
Tbaytel Fibre also will allow all users in a home to receive all of Tbaytel’s services seamlessly.
Aside from the home, Topatigh noted investment in Tbaytel Fibre also can mean investment in innovation, health care, education program delivery, and business development.
“The benefit of having a dedicated fibre connection is truly impactful,” he stressed.
“Tbaytel has been delivering fibre in Thunder Bay for a number of years now and we’re in an excellent position to be able to expand our service to our regional customers, starting right here in Fort Frances,” he noted.
“We see this as a way to grow our business and to ensure we continue to be a forward-looking company with the best interests of our region in mind.”
One of the most efficient and cost-effective ways to expand a fibre optic network is to use existing infrastructure—in this case, attaching Tbaytel’s equipment to hydro poles.
Topatigh said the hydro poles in Fort Frances are in excellent shape, which makes this project much easier to achieve.
“Fort Frances Power Corp. has done a phenomenal job in ensuring your hydro infrastructure is modern,” he noted.
“This a testament to the corporation’s commitment, the Town of Fort Frances, and the people who live here.
“As a result, it really does make it ideal for Tbaytel to come in and partner both with the Town of Fort Frances and the FFPC to work on this project to deliver technology that will no doubt significantly improve services now and in the future,” Topatigh said.
He noted the partnership is helping to “future-proof” Fort Frances “to meet the growing demands for reliable, quality service now and in the future.”
Topatigh also thanked Derek Jackson and his staff at Sight & Sound Audio Video, which has been Tbaytel’s local dealer for more than 15 years.
“I know that Derek is very optimistic about the opportunity this initiative will bring and the impact it will have on the local economy,” he said.
“Sight & Sound is just as committed to making Fibre a priority as our employees in Tbaytel.”
Mayor Roy Avis said the fibre optic network is “great news” and a “win-win” for citizens, businesses, schools, hospitals, and Tbaytel.
“Going forward, this will enhance our economic development strategy to attract new business and help maintain services in our community,” he remarked.
“Our citizens and businesses will be able to do one-stop shopping for Internet, TV, phone, and anything to do with electronics,” the mayor added.
“I must say, council was very excited to endorse this project and I know Tbaytel will be pleased with their decision
“Thanks, Dan, for picking Fort Frances,” Mayor Avis concluded. “I know that you won’t be let down.
“We’ll be there to do a good job for you.”
FFPC president and CEO Joerg Ruppenstein noted the FFPC is “very excited that Tbaytel is expanding it fibre network to Fort Frances.”
“The success of our corporation hinges on the success of our community, and we see the deployment of fibre as a crucial step in facilitating economic growth and enhancing the quality of life for our entire community,” he said.
“As a business, we have witnessed our demand for bandwidth grow exponentially as we continue to deploy more and more computers, as well as intelligent field devices,” Ruppenstein added.
“This makes fibre a perfect fit for our business needs,” he stressed.
“Being able to operate our communications network over a fibre backbone will significantly improve our processing speed, data security, and enable emerging technologies in our line of work such as a ‘Smart Grid.’”
Jackson agreed the introduction of a fibre optic network here will have a positive impact on Fort Frances.
“Sight & Sound has had the pleasure of working with Tbaytel to serve mobility customers since 1999,” he noted.
“In addition to developing a very strong working relationship with Tbaytel, I’ve also developed a good understanding of what customers in Fort Frances want and need from a service provider.”
Jackson added fibre is a technology being used in countries all around the world. And by having the same level of service available here, he has no doubt the impact will help everyone who lives here, as well as the entire business community.
Jackson noted Sight & Sound will be celebrating its 40th anniversary in business in Fort Frances next spring, and is looking forward to providing Tbaytel’s new services as they become available.
“To help accommodate this, we have some major store renovations coming up, inside and out, for the upcoming year,” he said.
“I look forward to growing our relationship with Tbaytel and our customers, and I can’t wait for what’s next as we move forward to provide the community with the very best experience possible,” added Jackson.
Tbaytel first introduced mobility service to Fort Frances in 2001.
To keep updated, visit www.tbaytel.net
