Bell announced Wednesday the completion of a broadband infrastructure project that will bring high-speed fibre internet access to 184 homes and businesses in the remote island communities of Big and Little Tancook Islands in Nova Scotia.
Delivered in collaboration with the province’s government, as part of the Internet for Nova Scotia Initiative, the project connects the islands directly to Bell’s fibre network through a subsea fibre deployment in the Blandford area.
Bell deployed approximately seven kilometres of submarine fibre cable and built an additional eight kilometres of fibre infrastructure on the islands, according to a Bell press release. These island communities have traditionally relied on a mix of fixed wireless and satellite technologies for internet access, Bell said.
“Reliable fibre Internet can transform opportunities for island communities. Working closely with the Government of Nova Scotia and Build Nova Scotia, we delivered an innovative subsea fibre project that will help residents and businesses on Big and Little Tancook Islands stay connected and thrive,” Mark McDonald, executive vice president and chief technology officer at Bell, said in the press release. “This project highlights how collaboration between government and the private sector can help bring advanced connectivity to communities and make a meaningful difference.”
“Through the Internet for Nova Scotia Initiative, led by Build Nova Scotia, we are pleased to see this undersea fibre project come to fruition with our partners. The service will provide Tancook Islands residents, visitors, and businesses with greater access to essential services and opportunities, helping to strengthen and support this coastal community,” Fred Tilley, Nova Scotia’s minister of public works, said in a statement. “The initiative has provided reliable high-speed internet access to nearly 100 per cent of Nova Scotians through a mix of providers and technologies. We believe Nova Scotia is the first province or territory in Canada to reach this level of coverage — a milestone we’re proud to achieve.”
Bell said it continues to invest in advanced communications infrastructure across Atlantic Canada, “expanding access to high-speed fibre Internet in rural, coastal and underserved communities while supporting economic growth and digital inclusion across the region,” according to its press release.
Photo via Nova Scotia website
