“We're out of sight, out of mind – and we get kept that way,” he says. New technologies would allow residents to access health services through video conferencing with doctors, instead of spending days flying out of their communities in a float plane for a simple check-up.
In Olds, Mr. Conklin has a similar idea. He says a new network would allow him and his international employees sketch ideas back and forth in real time, using a digital white board, something that is impossible right now. Faster connections would also spur his latest project: a portal that would allow small towns and businesses across the country to cheaply update their websites. If he can harness higher-speed connections to launch the business, it would translate into more jobs and business for the local economy.
“We would end up bringing project management, sales management – all of those types of people – into the town of Olds,” Mr. Conklin says. “I'm enthralled with the town of Olds. We've got a lot to offer.”
Broadband basics
Though it was among the first nations in the world to provide widespread broadband service to home customers, Canada is lagging other developed nations, according to a report by Harvard University. The broadband penetration rates are often lauded, but price and speed are given poor ratings. Canada also faces an urban-rural coverage gap.
The Harvard report has attracted some controversy. The big telecom players say it is based on outdated data that ignore multibillion-dollar investments. The authors, however, have repeatedly defended their findings.
Some typical Internet access speeds (in megabits per second, or Mbps) and costs:
Fixed wireless in rural areas
1.5 Mbps [...] $49 per month
3 Mbps [...] $65 per month
5 Mbps [...] $89 per month
Satellite in rural areas
1 Mbps [...] $70 per month
1.5 Mbps [...] $100+ per month
Cable in cities
10 Mbps [...] $47 per month
26 Mbps [...] $70 per month
50 Mbps [...] $100 per month
(“Broadband” speed generally refers to speeds 1.5 Mbps or higher)[-dotted-rule-]
Sources: Barrett Xplore, Rogers Communications Inc.
