TELUS and the Government of B.C. have negotiated an agreement to bring high speed, affordable Internet services to British Columbians.
TELUS will upgrade network facilities in designated remote communities to enable local internet service providers (ISPs) to make the last-mile connection, and provide high speed Internet to homes, business, schools and hospitals.
We are actively looking for ISPs and Community Providers to deliver last mile connectivity in these small communities. Eligible ISPs will be able to acquire these services at very attractive prices developed in consideration of the population base of these small communities. In certain circumstances, ISPs will also be able to obtain assistance for the cost to connect to the TELUS central office.
In order to assist community champions in preparing to apply to become an eligible local or regional service provider we have developed the Connecting B.C. Communities Handbook and financial model for Local and Regional Internet Service Provider Applicants. The Handbook and model contain information that will guide you through the process of establishing a business plan for the communities you wish to serve.
Applicants who are interested in becoming local service providers should review the Handbook and prepare their financial model using the template provided. Interested applicants are encouraged to complete the application form and send it to the Government of B.C. via email or fax (250 952-0254). This application will help government to evaluate the eligibility of interested parties. Applications will be evaluated based on the strength of the business plan.
New communities will be connected by annual quarters. Click here to view the Connecting Communities Schedule. The Government of BC and TELUS are also interested in discussing larger projects and more universal applications at any time. In addition, ISPs or Community Providers who wish to provide last mile solutions in communities shown in the list as satellite communities can connect with NetWork BC at any time.
Internet Service Providers to Connect B.C. Communities
As of July 2008, the Province and TELUS have now awarded 51 organizations - ranging from First Nations groups, community-based interests and existing ISPs - as the service provider for 77 communities. TELUS will enter agreements with each to connect them to a high-speed access point at a competitive cost. In turn, the ISPs will provide local service to homes and businesses. List of Communities Table
In addition, TELUS has connected customers in ten communities with ADSL service. These communities are: Denman Island, Hornby Island, Kuper Island, Lower Nicola, Mount Currie, Savona, Slocan, Thetis Island, Willow River and 150 Mile House.
The Province and TELUS will continue to engage with organizations interested in being the Internet service provider for the remaining 33 communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
THE CONNECTING COMMUNITIES AGREEMENT
1. What is the Connecting Communities Agreement (CCA)?
The CCA is an agreement between TELUS and the Government of British Columbia to bring affordable high speed Internet access to selected communities in the province.
2. Does this mean that TELUS will bring ADSL service to my community?
No, under the Connecting Communities Agreement, TELUS will provide high speed connections from its Central Office (CO) to the Community Point of Presence (PoP) for distribution by the eligible local Internet Service Provider. This agreement enables affordable open network access, service enhancement and local economic development in B.C. communities.
3. Will TELUS be able to compete with the local Internet Service Provider?
No, under the Connecting Communities Agreement, TELUS will not compete within the communities for like services for the term of the agreement.
4. What are the key aspects of the Connecting Communities Agreement?
- TELUS will invest approximately $110 million over the life of the agreement to aid in bringing high speed Internet and enhanced services to 119 communities in British Columbia and to enhance the IP network in the province overall.
- TELUS will provide a minimum 10 MB service to central offices in 366 communities across the province. TELUS and the Government of BC are working together to encourage regional service providers to extend last mile service within these communities.
- TELUS is providing pricing for high-speed access based on pricing for similar services in the Lower Mainland.
- This agreement helps provide a stable environment to protect the interests of entrepreneurs who want to start local access businesses.
5. What defines an eligible local Internet Service Provider or community organization under the agreement?
As part of the criteria, eligible organizations:
- are applying for an unserved location where there is currently no local high speed Internet access;
- demonstrate knowledge and/or expertise in broadband technology, business acumen and the operational aspects of managing a service provider operation;
- demonstrate financial capacity to acquire appropriate infrastructure to provide last mile high speed Internet service to the entire community base;
- intend to be the local Internet Access Services Provider; and,
- are not an affiliate, or otherwise have equity interest to, or entered into a partnership or business alliance with, a telecommunications provider which does not meet the eligibility criteria set out above.
6. Once an ISP signs a Connecting Communities Agreement, how quickly will TELUS provide service to the ISP POP?
TELUS will start provisioning the connectivity between the TELUS Central Offices (CO) and the ISP Point of Presence as soon as a signed contract and firm order is
received from the regional ISP. Depending on the engineering and provisioning requirements, some locations may require up to 12 weeks to complete installation of the
facilities required to provision the fibre based service.
TELUS has committed to conduct parallel builds consisting of the Core CO Backbone and the last mile access to the ISP POP, to decrease the total interval time for ISP service turn up.
7. How will the link be delivered between the TELUS Central Office and the Community Point of Presence? Will communities have the option of, say, a wireless link to their PoP?
TELUS will provide connectivity to an agreed upon demarcation point in the community, depending on the community solution.
8. How does the Connecting Communities Agreement ensure eligible local Internet service providers are available to make the last mile connection?
TELUS will pay up to $20,000 to support the infrastructure build costs from the TELUS Central Office to the eligible providers' Point of
Presence.
9. Are local service providers able to co-locate its equipment at the TELUS Central Office?
Co-location, or housing of customer premise equipment within a TELUS Central Office, will not be permitted.
10. If a community-based provider is not available to make the last mile connection in my community, what will happen?
The Government of BC and TELUS are proactively approaching the regional service provider community to attract Internet Service Providers for each of the 119 communities in the Connected Communities Agreement. In the event that there are communities without interested service providers, the Government of BC and TELUS would like to work with the community advocates to identify all alternatives and search for a viable solution.
11. When will the ISP be able to access the CO live POP?
Please visit the interactive status map at http://about.TELUS.com/digitaldivide/map.html to see when your community will be connected. Or, visit http://www.network.gov.bc.ca/docs/Schedule_Community_Connections.pdf for a schedule of completion.
12. What type of service will TELUS provide to ISPs?
Connection will be through either Carrier Internet Service or Carrier Wide Area Network (WAN) service.
13. What is a Carrier Internet service?
Carrier Internet Services is a single-location, routed Ethernet (E10) based service with access to the Internet.
14. What is a carrier Wide Area Network (WAN) service? And, how does it differ from carrier Internet service?
Carrier WAN is a multi-location, bridged Ethernet (E10) service where individual locations are mapped to a central hub called a Carrier Network Interface (CNI).
15. What are Ethernet based services (E10)?
E10 refers to Ethernet bandwidth capacity of 10 Mega bits per second (Mbps).
PRICING FOR ELIGIBLE LOCAL INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS
16. What is the preferred pricing model under this agreement?
A unique affordability price model was developed to support a low-cost entry for service providers.
Affordability Pricing Model |
Network Capacity |
Monthly |
Carrier Internet Managed: Routed |
||
Population: 0 to 200 |
E10 half duplex |
$150 |
E10 full duplex |
$225 |
|
Population: 201 to 500 |
E10 half duplex |
$300 |
E10 full duplex |
$400 |
|
Population: 500+ |
E10 half duplex |
$450 |
E10 full duplex |
$600 |
|
Internet, 2 Mbps |
|
Included |
Additional Internet, each Mbps |
|
$150 |
Carrier WAN: Bridged |
||
Population: 0 to 200 |
E10 half duplex |
$150 |
E10 full duplex |
$225 |
|
Population: 201 to 500 |
E10 half duplex |
$300 |
E10 full duplex |
$400 |
|
Population: 500+ |
E10 half duplex |
$450 |
E10 full duplex |
$600 |
|
Internet, each Mbps |
|
$150 |
17. Do we have to meet any obligations in order to receive preferred pricing?
Yes. To ensure Government, TELUS and communities receive a valuable, reliable and ongoing service, the local Internet Service Provider must agree to a multi-year contract that outlines the terms and conditions for eligibility.
18. If we want to migrate from a Carrier Internet Service to Carrier WAN service, will termination charges apply?
No, termination charges will not apply if the customer migrates from a Carrier Internet Service to a Carrier WAN service with TELUS.
19. Who do I contact to for more information?
If you are an existing regional local service provider or a prospective local service provider, please contact TELUS at 1-877-663-8211.
If you are a consumer and are interested in learning about connectivity plans for your community, please contact TELUS at 310-4NET for more information.
