FREDERICTON, NB – Bell Aliant, in partnership with the Government of New Brunswick, will be the first provider in Canada to cover an entire city with fibre to the home (FTTH) technology.
The regional communication provider pledged to invest $60 million to serve 70,000 homes and businesses in Fredericton and Saint John by mid 2010. Called FibreOp, the technology will provide customers access to an advanced broadband network delivered through 100% fibre-optic technology connected directly to their home.
"We are excited that our FibreOp launch makes us the first in Canada to offer fibre to the home to serve entire cities," said president and CEO Karen Sheriff, in the announcement. "In addition to bringing the most advanced technology to our customers, it makes economic sense for Bell Aliant in these markets because of the cost advantages associated with our virtually 100% aerial (above-ground) network infrastructure and low population density."
The Government of New Brunswick pledged to renew its strategic partnership with Bell Aliant by extending two existing service agreements for three years, as well as contributing $1 million to the project to ensure that local technology and construction companies are involved. In return, as part of the FTTH build, Bell Aliant promised to award $3 million in project-related contracts to local businesses.
Fibre to the home is an advanced broadband network that provides a superior experience for Internet and video services, including high-definition TV. It also enables the growing bandwidth needs of customers, including the ability to send and receive large amounts of data almost instantly.
Fibre optics deliver bandwidth using pulses of light, transmitted over glass fibres thinner than a human hair. Fibre has the highest bandwidth capacity available for both sending and receiving data, and provides a dedicated connection between the customer’s home and the company’s switching facility or central office, so the bandwidth delivered to the home doesn’t vary based on how many other users are in the neighbourhood.
Bell Aliant currently covers over 240,000 homes with its fibre to the node (FTTN) network. Fibre to the node delivers fibre close to the home or premises, to a point in the neighbourhood, and copper is used to connect from there to the home.
