“It’s by far the best service I’ve ever had—and I’ve had a few.” Those are the words of Silverton
resident Jason Clarke, speaking about the internet service he obtains through Columbia Wireless. He’s just one of many people living in the Slocan Valley—and elsewhere in the Basin—who are benefiting from the Trust’s expanded fibre-optic broadband network.
In fall 2022, the Trust completed the 125-kilometre expansion of its network up the Slocan
Valley (from Playmor Junction to Shoreholme, just north of Nakusp). By early 2023, local internet service provider Columbia Wireless had connected to this network, vastly improving its capabilities.
While the Trust owns the fibre backbone, providers like Columbia Wireless can connect to the network at various locations called “points of presence.” Some providers run fibre to individual buildings to be able to give network speeds to customers; others, like Columbia Wireless, send out signals wirelessly through towers.
With Columbia Wireless, this new connection enabled it to recently launch its Air Optic service, which still uses wireless technology but “allows much faster speeds—fibre speeds—to be transmitted to the end client,” says Columbia Wireless Chief Executive Officer Ben Leslie (pictured). This service is ideal for communities like Silverton, New Denver and Slocan Park, which Columbia Wireless didn’t service before as it couldn’t compete with larger internet service providers.
At first, about 60 households tested the Air Optic service, including Clarke’s. As a programmer who works in the IT department of an international food distribution company, Clarke relies on high speeds as “that’s how I go to work.” Before, for example, his video meetings would frequently drop. Now, that’s no longer a problem. Having previously tried about three other providers, he claims that Air Optic is “head and shoulders above everything else”—and he loves keeping his dollars with a local company.
While Air Optic only services households that are fairly close together, Columbia Wireless’s more spread-out rural customers are also benefiting. With many eligible folks switching to Air Optic, the company’s older mountain-top towers are facing less strain, which means that the speeds they offer to rural customers have improved, too.
Overall, Columbia Wireless has been able to expand into new markets—potentially growing its previous client base by about 30 per cent—while better servicing its existing clients, offering great reliability for everyone, and keeping costs down as it doesn’t have to string fibre to individual homes.
“Everyone benefits,” Leslie says. “This is kind of the start of Columbia Wireless 2.0. It’s going to be a big turning point for us.”
It’s equally wonderful for people who need fast, dependable internet, like Clarke. “Things are fantastic,” he says.
Above: How internet service providers like Columbia Wireless connect with the Trust’s fibre backbone to provide high-speed services to customers.
Two expansions continue
To help Basin residents and organizations meet the demands and desires of today’s digitally driven world, the Trust is well on its way to adding two more expansions to its regional fibre optic network: one between Fruitvale and Nelson, and the other between Kimberley and Wasa. These are scheduled to be done by the end of 2023.
When complete, internet service providers will be able to connect to the expanded network to provide services to homes. As well as bringing high-speed connectivity to underserved areas, households that already have high-speed service will see improved network performance and reduced internet downtime.
Additional funders include the federal Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (through its Broadband Fund), the provincial government (through its Connecting British Columbia program), the Regional District of Central Kootenay and the Regional District of East Kootenay.
Once these stretches are done, the Trust’s fibre optic network in the region will be 1,285-kilometres long.
Additional improvements coming
The Trust has another multi-year project that is just starting, and that will enhance access to high-quality internet across the Basin. The project is expected to bring broadband fibre to over 5,400 homes in the regional districts of Central Kootenay, Columbia Shuswap, Kootenay Boundary and East Kootenay. (See the link below to view the interactive map.)
Once the fibre is brought to the homes, residents can sign up with an internet service provider to receive high-speed service. The project will enable residents to access speeds that exceed the 50/10-megabits per-second standard set by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.
The $82-million project is being funded by the federal government through the Universal Broadband Fund; the provincial government through the Connecting BC program; the regional districts of Central Kootenay, Columbia Shuswap, East Kootenay and Kootenay Boundary; and the Trust.
Next steps include design, permitting and procurement, and the project is scheduled to be completed by spring 2027.
See which areas of the Basin are included: ourtrust.org/fibremap
