Faster Internet Connections for Nova Scotians

TECHNOLOGY/SCIENCE SECRETARIAT--Faster Internet Connections for Nova Scotians

An information technology project to enrich education and stimulate economic development is bringing faster Internet connections to schools and communities across Nova Scotia.

A digital ribbon-cutting today in Digby and Halifax unveiled a $6-million investment that increases Internet access speeds at every public school, library and community college campus in Nova Scotia -- more than 600 sites. Faster access to the Internet makes online applications easier to use and significantly reduces download times.

MTT, an Aliant company, is investing $5 million in the upgrade project, while the federal/provincial Information Economy Initiative is contributing $1 million through the Canada/Nova Scotia COOPERATION Agreement on Economic Diversification.

The COOPERATION Agreement is managed by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Nova Scotia Economic Development. With an investment to date of more than $90 million, the Information Economy Initiative is the single largest public information technology partnership project in Nova Scotia’s history.

"The growth of IT, telecommunications and e-commerce is one of the top five business issues in the province," said Premier John Hamm. "By boosting the technology resources in our schools and communities, we’re becoming one of the most connected provinces in the country and helping all Nova Scotians gain equitable access to the technology skills they need to build these key sectors of our economy."

"The Government of Canada is committed to helping Canadians become the most Internet-savvy people in the world," said Robert Thibault, minister of state for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. "This project is an unprecedented investment in technology infrastructure, positions Nova Scotia as a leader in connectivity and brings us closer to our goal of making broadband access widely available to all communities in Canada by 2004."

This investment in infrastructure is providing Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL) and T1 and 512-kilobyte lines that enable high-speed Internet access at schools, colleges and libraries throughout Nova Scotia. The sites make up EDnet, a wide area network established by the Department of Education, in partnership with MTT, to improve access to information technology.

This new infrastructure gives more than a dozen of the schools’ surrounding communities and businesses earlier access to high- speed Internet and lays the foundation for future upgrades.

"Schools are the centre of a community, and community broadband access is the backbone connection that is vital for the growth and development of every community in this province," said Gerry Pond, President of Aliant Telecom and Emerging Business. "Working with our public-sector partners, Aliant has made an investment in our broadband infrastructure that brings high-speed Internet to the community schools, libraries and colleges with no impact on their operating budgets."

Today’s webcast between Digby and the Halifax Campus of the Nova Scotia Community College demonstrated the capabilities of the new high-speed network connections. Students and project partners at both locations participated in the announcement, which is available for viewing in RealVideo at 2 p.m. at www.ednet.ns.ca .

Announced in May 1998, the Information Economy Initiative invests in Internet connections, hardware and software at schools, libraries, universities, colleges and communities throughout the province. The initiative has provided 6,200 computers and Internet connections for 181 secondary high schools. In partnership with MTT, the initiative has also installed a large fibre-optic line between the two sites of the Nova Scotia Community College Annapolis Valley Campus and invested in high- speed network connections for the University College of Cape Breton and Acadia and St. Francis Xavier universities.

Partners in the Information Economy Initiative are the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Nova Scotia Economic Development (through the Canada/Nova Scotia COOPERATION Agreement on Economic Diversification), Nova Scotia Department of Education, Industry Canada, Human Resources Development Canada, Nova Scotia Advisory Board on Colleges and Universities, Nova Scotia Technology and Science Secretariat, University College of Cape Breton, Acadia, Dalhousie and St. Francis Xavier universities, colleges, the private sector, school boards and communities throughout the province.

Aliant Telecom is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aliant Inc. Aliant Inc. is one of Canada’s top high-tech companies, providing integrated communications and IT applications and services through subsidiary companies operating worldwide. By combining industry-leading expertise from across the group of companies, the Aliant Premium Model delivers unique solutions to global customers. With over 10,000 employees and a market capitalization of almost $5 billion, Aliant ranks in the top 100 publicly traded companies in the country.