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Bancroft continues to seek high-speed Internet


By Tony Pearson



According to the final report of Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN), the group set up by the Eastern Ontario Wardens Caucus nearly a decade ago to bring high-speed Internet service to this region, the provision of broadband service in the area has "exceeded expectations."


Nearly 90 per cent of homes and businesses can get service at a speed of at least 10 megabytes a second, and the remainder can get six to 10 Mbps, either through digital subscriber phone line or satellite, according to the organization.


However, a large number of Internet users in the Bancroft area still find their speeds below these levels.
For someone using the Internet for personal use, this can be inconvenient, hindering the streaming of movies and shows, for example. For a business, it can present a serious competitive disadvantage, with an inability to communicate quickly with clients and suppliers.


This area is trying to attract new economic development by entrepreneurs operating remotely from their major markets, building home-based enterprises using the Internet to supply and service customers. But this only works if Internet service truly is high speed.


The key to high speeds is the use of fibre-optic cable. And the EORN project has brought fibre-optic cable to Bancroft.
However, for the signal to travel from the town hubs to homes, it must move along copper wire, which is not as fast. They need to speak to a professional in this field, like the services of fibre internet Melbourne have available, to talk through their options and see if there is any way they could replace the copper wiring.



Although, as well as this, your speed tends to diminish the farther away you are from the hub.


At River's Edge golf course to the east, and at Tim Hortons on Highway 28 to the south, the speed is about three Mbps.


At the Bancroft town offices, situated right beside the hub, the speed is four to six Mbps.


These are the download speeds.


Uploading is generally slower.


The town of Bancroft has requested a map showing the level of service available in various locations.


(By the way, if you wish to test your own speed, you can download a speed test application from an outfit called Ookla, at speedtest.net.)


Chief administrative officer Hazel Lambe reports that complaints by council about service deficiencies prompted the response that a second phase to the EORN project is possible.


At this week's council meeting, the recommendation is that council send a letter to EORN requesting the funding for full high-speed Internet.


Council also hopes to bring EORN reps to a meeting to review promises versus delivery. Deputy Mayor Paul Jenkins said it has taken months just to get the limited information now available.


Lambe sums up: "It is critical for municipal service hubs, and their economic development and well-being, that high-speed Internet be available for all. In supporting existing provincial policy that encourages and directs growth to serviced areas, the Town of Bancroft's inefficient availability of high-speed Internet must be a priority for any further government contributions."
Post date: 2016-01-15 11:41:07
Post date GMT: 2016-01-15 16:41:07
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