Project Skywire, an initiative to bring high-speed Internet access to unserved communities in the Blue Sky Region, is moving into the build stage.
Site preparations are underway to accommodate new tower locations in the region and Phase 1 of the project is expected to be complete by February 2005, with first customers online by Christmas. Six new towers of the 24-tower network will be constructed.
The project received subsidy funding from Industry Canada to enable the development of necessary infrastructure to allow residents in rural communities to access the Internet via a broadband connection.
W3Connex is constructing the towers, and will own the physical equipment used for the towers, but will be wholesaling access to Internet service providers who will then re-sell service to the end user, according to Blue Sky Net project manager Scott Mannering.
Blue Sky Net, the community-based network that received the subsidy funds, along with W3Connex, will be meeting with interested parties regarding
providing service over the network’s infrastructure.
