Broadband update

By Kaicheng Xin
Staff Reporter

Clearwater County took a step toward bridging the digital divide with an open house at the Rocky Regional Recreation Centre on April 16, providing more details of its $63 million rural fibre-optic broadband project. 

Funded by federal and provincial grants under the Universal Broadband Fund (UBF), the initiative aims to offer the option of high-speed internet to rural homes and businesses through a fibre optics connection or wireless towers connected to the fibre optic.

“This is about securing connectivity for the future,” said county’s reeve Michelle Swanson, emphasizing the project’s role in supporting tele-health, education and economic growth. The county secured the funding in June 2023 after years of planning with discussions dating back to 2002.

She said that more construction will begin immediately once frost clears for this year, starting with further conduit installation — a protective casing holding fibre tubes — along existing infrastructure. 

A backbone network, completed in 2021, already connects Nordegg, Caroline, Sundre, and Olds to the DataHive internet gateway in Calgary. New “ribs” will branch off this backbone to reach premises.

Residents were encouraged to track progress and sign up for updates via the county’s website, which will notify them when construction nears their area. Five Internet service providers (ISPs) have partnered to offer plans with speeds varying by package.

Swanson highlighted fibre’s superiority over satellite, noting its reliability for businesses and emerging technologies. “Fibre is blue gold,” she said, referencing its potential to attract data centres and value-added industries like agriculture and energy. While the town declined to partner earlier, its residents can still connect if lines pass nearby.

Supplies, including ducting from Edmonton and fibre from Sweden, are secured, though supply chain delays could impact the ideal 900-day completion goal. The county aims to have this available to most county households within two years, prioritizing cost-effective routes. Remote properties may still require alternatives like Starlink.