Project Update
February 21, 2008
Proposals sought for full HRM broadband coverageThe province is asking for proposals to ensure broadband service is available to everyone in the Halifax Regional Municipality.
The tender, issued , Feb. 21, brings the unserved areas of HRM into the Broadband for Rural Nova Scotia initiative, which ensures 100 per cent access by the end of 2009.
In December, tenders were awarded to cover the rest of the province under the broadband initiative. At that time, HRM was in the final stages of a separate broadband project supported by all three levels of government. The project covered 45 communities in rural areas, leaving about 2,000 civic addresses unserved.
"We're very pleased to be working with the province to ensure complete coverage for the municipality," said Brad Anguish, director of business planning and information management for HRM. "Citizens are anxious to be connected, and HRM is excited by the increased economic development opportunities that result from the additional broadband coverage."
"We will continue to work closely with our colleagues in the HRM to ensure that the process meets the needs of their residents," said Nancy Flam, broadband co-ordinator for the Department of Economic Development. "HRM will be covered by the same time lines as the rest of the unserved areas of the province."
The request for proposals is available through the public tenders office at 6176 Young St., Halifax, by calling 902-424-3333 or going online at www.gov.ns.ca/tenders.
The closing date is March 20.
High-speed Internet service is available to about 78 per cent of Nova Scotians. The Broadband for Rural Nova Scotia project will have remaining areas of the province served by the end of 2009.
Progress Report
The project is on target for its goal that every Nova Scotian will have access to broadband by the end of December 2009.
Zones 1 - 6 - Service providers were awarded contracts for zones 1-6 in December. Engineering and planning work will be finalized in each of these zones. The service providers contracted under the provincial broadband project are meeting with staff at regional development authorities and municipal and county councils around the province to discuss requirements. Companies will inform potential subscribers directly when their location has coverage.
Zone 7- As noted above, HRM (Zone 7), is being tendered now for about 2,000 unserved civic addresses. Engineering and planning will be finalized once the tender is awarded.
The Planning Stage
Building season is generally from late spring to late fall depending on weather and the state of the freeze and thaw of individual sites. Before building, planning is necessary. In areas where radio antennae are required to be built or installed, the majority will be poles, similar to, but taller than telephone or electricity poles. The remainder will be towers.
Engineers must evaluate radio frequency signals and the topography of the land to determine the best location for the most coverage. Their work determines if it is a new tower or a pole that will make the site effective.
Once the engineers have picked the best sites, the project manager then finds out if the sites are available. If there is a suitable existing pole, tower, or cable for lease, then space must be negotiated. If the site isn't available, then another adjacent site must be found. If nothing is available, then the engineer must find an alternative site or sites.
When the land is acquired, the service provider must apply for the permits to build and comply with any regulatory requirements and municipal by-laws. At the same time, the provider must order tower components, equipment, poles and other items.
Areas within each zone will probably be connected in stages, first using space on provincial towers, then building new towers, and finally filling in the any remaining non-serviced areas with poles. It is time efficient and will get the most subscribers connected quickly.
