In partnership with CENGN
CARLING TOWNSHIP, Ont. — An innovative broadband project using high-speed microwave and fibre-to-the-home connectivity, jointly funded by Centre of Excellence in Next Generation Networks (CENGN) and independent ISP Vianet, is now making high-speed Internet service available to residents in Carling Township located on the eastern shores of Georgian Bay.
Due to the rugged terrain in the region, extending Vianet’s existing fibre-optic network from the larger community of Parry Sound to Carling (a distance of approximately 24 km) was financially unfeasible. The ISP solved the problem by constructing a new 200-foot telecom tower (pictured) at a high point near the residents of Carling (pop. 1,100) and using an advanced, microwave-based, fixed-wireless backbone solution to provide a 1 Gbps connection between the Carling community and an existing 200-foot tower in Parry Sound operated by the West Parry Sound Smart Community Network organization, who spearheaded the project and collaborated with Vianet on its implementation.
With licensed microwave equipment installed on both towers, a 13.5-km 15GHz microwave link is extending Vianet’s existing point of presence in Parry Sound to Carling Township. From the new tower, Vianet installed 4 km of underground conduit and fibre to the home, passing approximately 280 properties.
“This project began with a start-up investment of $500,000, 50% invested by Vianet and 50% by CENGN to pass the initial 100 homes in the project area. Understanding that the challenging terrain was preventing reliable internet for other property owners in the immediate area, Vianet continued to invest another $250,000 to include an additional 180 residences,” explains Vianet on its website.
The Carling Township project is part of CENGN’s Northern Ontario Residential Broadband program, which is funded by the Ontario government’s Next Generation Network Program (NGNP).
Sudbury-based Vianet is now offering the following new services in Carling Township:
- Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) high-speed Internet access (50 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload) for $99.99 per month, with unlimited data (no data cap).
- From the new tower, a range of fixed wireless access (FWA) high-speed Internet services (all with unlimited data/no data cap): 50 Mbps/10 Mbps for $129.95 per month; 25 Mbps/5 Mbps for $99.95 per month; and 10 Mbps/2 Mbps for $79.95 per month.
“CENGN began its Northern Ontario Residential Broadband Program by funding the Carling Township project. As the first of its kind, I am pleased to see the successful launch of high-speed, reliable and affordable internet access services to the residents in Carling Township,” said Jean-Charles Fahmy, president and CEO of CENGN, in a press release. “I applaud Vianet and the West Parry Sound Smart Community Network for their close collaboration in addressing the connectivity gap for residents and building a stronger local economy.”
“West Parry Sound Smart Community Network is extremely pleased with the launch of Vianet’s high-speed internet services in Carling Township. The fibre service will reach up to 300 homes and the fixed wireless service will reach an additional 517 homes and businesses within 5 km of the tower, along with potentially another 80 homes within 8 km of the tower. This project addresses approx. 50% of the residents in Carling Township,” said Lis McWalter, chair of the West Parry Sound Smart Community Network Inc. “Local residents have long suffered with inferior internet service of typically only speeds of 5 Mbps down and 1 Mbps up. We thank CENGN and Vianet for their investment in Carling Township, and their teams for their great collaboration. We also would like to thank the local residents for their support and patience during construction. We look forward to expanding this service to other areas throughout the township in the near future.”
Brian McCullagh, director of business development at Vianet, added: “Vianet is excited to see that this project is now up and operational. We are delivering on our promise to bring quality internet to rural Ontarians, and feel this project is something we can build upon to reach more homes in need of better broadband. Again, we would like to thank CENGN, West Parry Sound Smart Community Network, and the Township of Carling for their continued support through the building stages of this network.”
