Eastlink to provide high-speed Internet for all

By Christy Marsters

Marilyn Barkhouse lives in Mosherville, Scotch Village and has been on a waiting list for high-speed Internet for over 15 years. She now plugs into the Web with dial-up Internet, which is also very slow. But, these times will soon change.

By the end of 2009, Eastlink will provide all areas of rural Hants County with access to high-speed Internet. It is one stipulation in the company’s five-year contract with the provincial government to give all areas of Nova Scotia affordable Internet entry.

Similar contracts have been signed with Seaside Wireless and OmniGlobe Networks.

Lorraine Glendenning, with the Broadband for Rural N.S. Initiative, explained basics for the project during a public meeting held at the Brooklyn Fire Department April 1.

Hundreds of towers will be constructed or newly equipped to provide fixed wireless Internet, which is about 25 times faster than dial-up, to all, Glendenning said. “If you are in the circle of coverage (surrounding a tower), that’s how you will get a signal.”

However there may be some low-lying areas within a circle missed by the signal, but these will be impossible to detect until the towers are lit up, Glendenning said. “Yet, with repeater poles these problems should be corrected quite quickly. All people in rural N.S. will have the same quality Internet (with a 1.5 Megabytes speed) for the same price ($46.95, which is comparable to urban prices.)

In West Hants, four towers will be built in Pembroke, Woodville, Lower Burlington and Cheverie. Three existing towers are planned for use in Hemlock Hill, Willow Hill and Martock. Also, in East Hants, five new towers will be constructed in East Hants, Rawdon, Maple Grove, Lower Selma and East Walton. Plus, five towers now existing are planned for use in Barrs Settlement, Noel Lake, Enfield, Shubenacadie and Alton.

Communications manager Mary Jane Fumerton, with the Department for Economic Development, said the signals from these towers are low spectrum radio waves that spray fixed wireless, high-speed, Internet service. “People are thinking this is going to take a long time, but this isn’t a huge construction. This will be the easiest part.”

This project, once completed, will give students greater access to research, people in distant areas an ability to keep in touch without travel, businesses new opportunity to connect with the market and it will create level playing fields for everyone in N.S., Fumerton said. “It going to make life so much easier, as all of rural N.S. needs this.”

Cliff Boudreau, living in Mosherville, Scotch Village, said he is retired and could live without the Internet but he likes to use it for entertainment and for being informed.

The dial-up Internet installed here is used 4-5 hours a day despite the aggravation of it taking too long, Boudreau said. “When I’m kicked out (and lose Internet signals) it takes five minutes to get back to bridge. I like just playing games and cards on this.” “I’m not totally pleased with what they presented (during the meeting in Brooklyn),” Boudreau said. “However, I figure I will get high-speed from it. I thought it was fair.”

Martin Wigginton, living in Ardoise, said the Internet is a big part of the world today and this project will give people a new option to gain access to essential high-speed. “However, they should not make people sign onto a $50 deal. If they do, it’s unfair.”

The Government has put lots of effort into making high-speed available for everyone but it’s important to put together packages to also make it affordable for all, because people in rural areas can’t all afford $50 a month, Wigginton noted. “It is not difficult to offer options. Some may not need 1.5 megabytes and might be able to afford less.”

Dial-up Internet is not an option in today’s date because sites are so huge, Wigginton added. “How desperate are we in rural N.S. for the Internet? We are very desperate.”