A plan to bring a high-speed, fibre optic network to all parts of the county – at a cost of about $1 million – was presented to Wellington County council on Feb. 27.
Grey County CAO Lance Thurston and Grey’s director of information technology Geoff Hogan presented the results of a broadband internet feasibility study initiated by the Western Ontario Warden’s Caucus and involving 16 counties.
Thurston and Hogan are part of an 11-member committee looking at the Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) design.
The system, which the pair is recommending, would reach over 2.9 million residents in 310 cities, towns, villages, hamlets and rural areas and would cover some 41,200 square kilometres, serving a lowest density of four people per square kilometer.
“The only way that will meet our future needs is fibre,” Hogan told Wellington County council.
The network would see a combination of public and private participation in a bid to keep residential costs down.
The total price for the system is estimated at over $230 million, with $81 million each from the provincial and federal governments, $16 million from the 16 participating counties, and over $60 million from the private sector.
“The SWIFT network will ensure ongoing competition occurs between providers regardless of population density, providing consumers with more choices, better services, and lower prices,” the report states.
The report also claims the system would improve economic and social prosperity, particularly in under serviced areas.
Officials say SWIFT will meet those obligations by:
– connecting Canadians with available jobs by equipping them with access to the skills and training they require for obtaining high-quality, well-paying jobs;
– helping manufacturers and businesses succeed in the global economy by better connecting them to it;
– connecting families and communities so they have expanding opportunities to succeed and enjoy a high quality of life;
– connecting youth to better access to education and employment at home; and
– connecting seniors for enhanced interactions with health care providers and support services at home.
Fibre optic provides a two-way, high-speed delivery system capable of handling large transmissions. The report estimates annual operating expenses of SWIFT at $9.7 million and an average cost per person of $93.
“It’s not a ‘ma and pa’ network,” Hogan said.
The system could also be connected to fibre optic networks already in place or planned.
County councillor John Green said the success of implementing the system will be acceptance at all levels.
“The general acceptance, that’s dependent on where we go,” said Green.
Thurston said the warden’s caucus and its municipal members are only
dealing with a concept at this point and more work is needed to determine how the system will work.
Councillor Don McKay said the system would fit in well with the findings of the county’s economic strategic plan, which calls for better internet communications.
“One of the key issues is we need high-speed internet to make things happen,” McKay said.
Councillor Bruce Whale said the system is “very dependent on having federal and provincial money.” He wanted to know whether the system would be impacted by existing or new interactive technology such as satellites.
“There’s nothing that goes faster than light,” Hogan replied.
Councillor Dennis Lever asked about plans to run fiber optic lines down rural sideroads.
Thurston said a work plan would be part of the further study of the project.
“The $230 million is the worst-case scenario of costs,” Thurston said.
Council voted to defer a $25,000 commitment to planning costs for the SWIFT system and to direct the administration, finance and personnel committee to discuss the matter before it comes back to council.
