Bell MTS enhancing broadband for rural areas

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This article was published 23/06/2021 (1636 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Bell MTS is launching its Wireless Home Internet service for 12 communities across Manitoba, with enhanced broadband access for nearly 40,000 rural and remote locations to come by the end of 2021.

“It’s an exciting chapter for us and for all of Manitoba,” said Ryan Klassen, vice-chair of Bell MTS and Western Canada, in an interview Tuesday.

The new 5G-capable network will offer download speeds of up to 50 megabits per second and upload speeds of 10 Mbps, with no data overage fees on the 3500 MHz spectrum. It’s part of a recent $1.7-billion investment from telecommunications giant Bell Canada, as it expands across the country from province to province over the next two years.

“COVID-19 certainly accelerated the need for something like this, because we’ve all been relying more than we ever have on strong and trustworthy internet service,” Klassen told the Free Press. “But in many ways, it also predates that, because these are communities that haven’t had this kind of access before.”

Areas that will now have access to the new services include: Dauphin, Gimli, Grand Beach, Lac du Bonnet, Libau, Peguis First Nation, Shilo, Sidney, Victoria Beach, Whitemouth, Winkler and Woodlands.

Pure fibre internet is already available in Churchill, Flin Flon, Morden and La Salle.

Addressing Elon Musk’s new SpaceX Starlink, which aims to offer easily accessible internet through a network of thousands of satellites by late 2021, including in many parts of Manitoba, Klassen said Bell MTS is “providing something that is quite a bit more reliable and consistent, with local technicians always on hand.”

“This type of technology that we’re bringing to Manitoba right now is something that will only keep evolving, enhancing and expanding as we move forward,” said Klassen. “And we’ve already seen just how popular it’s been in all the other provinces we’ve introduced this in.”

Manitoba Chambers of Commerce president Chuck Davidson called the initiative “a critical infrastructure for our entrepreneurs, farmers and families” in rural areas.

“It couldn’t come at a better time when we’re all trying to make sure we can keep bridging our connectivity gap,” Davidson said. “And I’m hopeful it will only extend the economic prosperity of our province, as we slowly recover from this massive public health crisis.”

temur.durrani@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @temurdur