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News Release November 18, 2003 BROADBAND ACCESS PROJECT TO CONNECT 90% OF NEW BRUNSWICK RESIDENTS MONCTON, New Brunswick - Ninety per cent of New Brunswickers will have access to high-speed Internet by the end of 2006 due to a public/private partnership agreement announced today by two levels of government and Aliant. Allan Rock, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Infrastructure, together with New Brunswick Premier Bernard Lord, and Jay Forbes, President and CEO of Aliant, today announced an investment of $44.6 million to extend broadband access to most New Brunswick communities. “This broadband project represents an important step toward the achievement of our innovation objectives,” said Minister Rock. “The residents of New Brunswick will be able to plug in to a high-speed Internet network that will not only bring together Canadians from coast to coast, but around the world. Once again Canada is re-affirming its leadership role in the area of telecommunications, and for that I am proud.” “The strongest, wealthiest economies in the world today are the most innovative,” Premier Lord said. “Through our eNB.ca strategy, we are positioning New Brunswick as a global leader in the digital economy. We recognize the growing importance of the knowledge-based economy and the potential of broadband technology to strengthen our rural communities and our province through increased opportunities for e-learning, e-business and e-health. The majority of our citizens will benefit from broadband access by the end of 2006 thanks to this strategic partnership.” “Partnerships like the one announced today help us to advance our mission to enhance and simplify the lives of our customers through world-leading communications solutions,” said Jay Forbes, Aliant President and CEO. “We are very pleased that our investment of $15.6 million over the next three years will further build on the $90 million we’ve invested in our New Brunswick broadband network over the last four years to connect citizens. We look forward to working with consumers and businesses across the province as we continue to connect them with the latest in technology, ensuring the highest quality of service, value and convenience.” The New Brunswick Broadband project will connect 90% of residences by 2006. In addition, 95% of business lines, and 100% of regional health care centres, business parks and First Nations’ communities will gain access. As New Brunswick’s schools are 100 per cent connected today, the expanded services for broadband will build upon the province’s already existing school program. The Government of Canada will provide $16.5 million for this infrastructure project and the Province of New Brunswick will provide $12.5 million. Aliant will invest $15.6 million. The Government of Canada’s contribution will include funds to ensure that First Nations communities in the province also have access to broadband service. Claudette Bradshaw, Minister of Labour and Member of Parliament for Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe, offered her comments in reference to today’s announcement. “The Government of Canada recognizes the potential broadband access can have, especially for people living in rural and remote communities, including First Nations. Expanded broadband access will give so many communities improved access to the information and e-tools needed to continue building our knowledge-based economy,” said Minister Bradshaw. La Collectivité ingénieuse de la Péninsule acadienne (CIPA) Inc. has worked closely with the Province to develop a sustainable plan for the deployment of broadband infrastructure to New Brunswick communities. This broadband initiative furthers the Government of Canada’s commitment to provide broadband service to all Canadian communities that is, in part, being achieved through the Broadband for Rural and Northern Development Pilot Program. In addition, the Government of Canada has recently announced $204 million in similar broadband initiatives through various programs. These investments will mean better access to high-capacity Internet for Northern and remote communities elsewhere in Canada. The announcement also fits in with the province’s long-term strategy for economic growth entitled Greater Opportunity New Brunswick’s Prosperity Plan. One of the main building blocks of this plan is to encourage New Brunswickers to embrace innovation. Funding broadband infrastructure strengthens communities, which is one of the key recommendations that emerged from the regional and national summits on innovation and learning. Through these consultations with business and community leaders, broadband service was identified as a tool in building partnerships, improving innovation performance, and promoting entrepreneurial skills and job creation. In the Speech from the Throne of September 30, 2002, the Government of Canada
committed to an additional 10-year investment in public infrastructure, including
broadband. Budget 2003 re-affirmed this long-term commitment and provided an
additional $3 billion in infrastructure support, bringing the Government of
Canada’s contribution to infrastructure to The Government of New Brunswick website can be found at http://www.gnb.ca. For more information on Aliant, visit http://www.aliant.ca. Contacts: Mylène Dupéré Denis D’Amour Infrastructure Canada Chisholm Pothier Judy Cole Isabelle Robinson BACKGROUNDERBroadband Partnership AnnouncementA partnership arrangement between the Government of Canada, the Province of New Brunswick and Aliant has now been secured to bring connectivity to every key centre and 90 per cent of New Brunswick citizens by the end of 2006. The project has been designed to roll out in three phases, beginning as early as this year with completion of the overall program in three years. Broadband is defined as a high-capacity Internet connection, capable of supporting full-motion, real-time audio and video applications. It is a pipeline for delivering innovative applications, putting services in areas like health, education and business within easy reach of all Canadians. New Brunswick Broadband Project In negotiations with the Government of Canada, a window was provided through Infrastructure Canada to finalize a project that would bring high-capacity Internet to most New Brunswick homes, businesses and institutions. A proposal was submitted seeking funding under the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund (CSIF). This proposal complemented and was mutually dependent on an application submitted to Industry Canada under the Broadband for Rural and Northern Development pilot program by the Collectivités ingénieuses de la Péninsule acadienne (CIPA). The CIPA acted as a community champion in this initiative for the Province’s 12 community economic development agencies representing rural New Brunswick. The total project for high-capacity Internet access being announced now is a $44.6 million investment. The Government of Canada will provide $16.5 million for this infrastructure project and the Province of New Brunswick will provide $12.5 million. Aliant will invest $15.6 million. The Government of Canada’s contribution will include funds to ensure that First Nations communities in the province also have access to broadband service. While 90 per cent of residences will benefit, 95 per cent of business lines, and 100 per cent of regional health centres, business parks and First Nations communities will also gain access. As New Brunswick’s schools are 100 per cent connected today, the expanded services for broadband will build upon and further enhance the province’s already existing school program. It is anticipated that the remaining 10 per cent of households in the province will be able to take advantage of other technologies such as a fixed wireless system. Already, New Brunswick information technology firms are constructing towers and launching a wireless high-speed service specifically for small communities (Aernet, Xplornet). This partnership allows Aliant to build on its previous investment of over $90 million over the last four years in high-speed Internet service in New Brunswick, enabling the connectivity of a greater number of residences and businesses in a shorter period of time. Aliant’s aim is to enhance and simplify the lives of Atlantic Canadians with world-leading communications solutions. High-speed Internet access is an important part of this solution. With over 100 years of experience, Aliant demonstrates commitment to providing communications services to communities throughout Atlantic Canada, both rural and urban. Broadband: A Federal and Provincial Priority The Government of Canada and the Government of New Brunswick are clearly aware of the crucial role that communications infrastructure such as high-capacity Internet connectivity will play in enabling the province to compete in the new economy. This broadband initiative furthers the Government of Canada’s commitment to provide broadband services to all Canadian communities that is, in part, being achieved through the Broadband for Rural and Northern Development pilot program. In addition, the Government of Canada has already announced $155 million towards the National Satellite Initiative, which will bring better access to high-speed Internet in Northern and remote communities across the country, as well as $5 million towards expanding broadband access in Newfoundland and Labrador remote schools and communities through the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund. In the Province’s economic growth agenda document, Greater Opportunity: New Brunswick’s Prosperity Plan, the Government of New Brunswick committed itself to work with the private sector and its federal partners in enhancing its strategic communications infrastructure. Under the Prosperity Plan, the Province identified, as a priority, the need to develop a high-speed, broadband Internet access initiative to support its eNB.ca strategy, attract and grow high technology businesses, improve government services, enhance educational and training opportunities, and improve citizen and community access to Internet services. By recognizing the value of the National Broadband Task Force recommendations, New Brunswick is moving ahead with its plans for prosperity through this public/private sector partnership. The Province will be stronger as a whole when all of its people are connected and/or have access to technology no matter where they live. The results will be a better educated workforce and a more competitive, technology equipped province. Both the Government of Canada and the Province of New Brunswick agree that broadband will bring citizens closer together, helping businesses to compete and providing people with better access to distance education and e-learning opportunities, tele-health, e-business and e-government services. Broadband will also reduce the isolation of remote areas, as well as the disparities between rural and urban communities. About Aliant From its home base in Atlantic Canada, Aliant delivers a wide variety of innovative and traditional communications services, including local and long-distance telephony, wireless, Internet, e-commerce, interactive multimedia, data and managed network services, to more than two million consumers and over 80,000 enterprises. Aliant complements its industry-leading telecommunications business with strengths in advanced systems and technology solutions, mobile and remote communications, and Knowledge-services applications. The company's more than 9,100 employees build on Aliant's 100-plus year history by collaborating to deliver the highest quality of customer service, choice and convenience. Aliant is a TSX 100 company with a market capitalization of more than $4 billion. More information about Aliant (TSX:AIT) may be found by visiting www.aliant.ca. |
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