High Speed Internet Project
The City of Beaumont is currently in negotiations to host an ultra high speed broadband network that would connect all homes and businesses in the community.
If an agreement is approved by council, the city would partner with a consortium including leading global technology firms Digital Infrastructure Group and Jacobs, for the construction of the network over the next two years.
Once built, residents will have the opportunity to sign with a service provider for high speed internet to their home or business. The project also positions the city as a hub for tech innovation and knowledge-based industry and will serve to attract businesses and investment to Beaumont.
Network details
Jacobs will lead the project design and delivery, Digital Infrastructure Group is financing the project, and the City of Beaumont is providing access to public rights-of-way for the fibre. Digital Infrastructure Group’s team would also maintain the network for a set period.
The network will consist of the highest speed broadband network available commercially in the world, with the capacity to transfer data at 10 Gigabits per second. This would be a hundred-fold increase from the current average download speed in Canada of less than 100 megabits per second.
Once construction starts, the first customers are expected to be hooked up within 12 months, with full project completion within 24 months.
Next steps
The City of Beaumont continues to negotiate agreement details with the consortium and is conducting due diligence and legal reviews of contract terms. A proposed agreement is expected to be prepared for city council’s consideration in 2021. At that time, council will deliberate and vote on the agreement during a public meeting.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much will this cost the City of Beaumont?
- What are the risks to the City of Beaumont and taxpayers?
- How much will internet service cost once the network is built?
- Could Telus, Shaw and other service providers leave Beaumont if this network goes ahead?
- Do I have a choice if I don’t want to be connected to the network?
- What is an open-access network?
- What is 10 gigabit? What are the benefits?
- Beaumont already has one-gigabit per second internet in some places. What’s the difference?
- How much is Digital Infrastructure Group investing in the Beaumont project?
- Why is a company willing to make a major investment into improved access to high-speed internet for Beaumont? How will it recover its investment?
- Who will own and operate the network?
- What are the benefits to residents?
- When can I get service from the network?
- Will I be able to keep my current service provider?
- Will the network use Huawei technology?
- Does this include 5G technology? What are the health impacts of 5G technology?
- Will this mean the streets in the city and my yard have to be ripped up?