Alberta, Canada

SuperNet Bridges the Rural Digital Divide

Described as “courageous and insightful,”  a Canadian province has taken an innovative, holistic approach to bridging the digital divide to benefit its citizens. Alberta now delivers high-speed broadband access to its rural and urban communities with 80% of its able to receive access via a public-private partnership business model.  By employing an inclusive, “big tent” strategy similar to the successful model developed by Cleveland-based OneCommunity, Alberta is able to take a bold step into the 21st century economy by providing access in spite of challenges inherent to a province made up of numerous communities with populations of less than 100.

Vision

For the Alberta government, the goal of bridging the gap between urban citizens and “rural have-nots” catalyzed the launch of the Alberta SuperNet in 2005.   Providing all Albertans with the opportunity to participate in and benefit from the knowledge economy remains the goal of this vibrant network in its third year of operation. As a result, Alberta SuperNet focuses not on the network itself, but on the applications that ride on that network . . . in other words, the educational, library-based, health care and governmental services available via the network that bring tangible benefit to its citizens’ lives.

Technology & Ownership Model

The Alberta SuperNet is one of the largest private IP networks in the world, connecting over 429 communities throughout urban and rural Alberta, Canada.  The network consists of a combination of fiber optics (10,000 kilometers) and high-speed wireless (3,000 kilometers).   It connects 1,300 health care facilities, 2,300 schools, 311 libraries, and over 200 urban municipalities. The network is owned by two main providers: Bell Canada and the Government of Alberta. Axia SuperNet Ltd. operates the network under a 10-year, renewable contract.

Stakeholders

Education

Understanding the importance of engaging all participants in the educational spectrum, the Albertan government included stakeholders from K-12 schools, universities, and colleges in their ambitious project from its onset. To help ensure success and buy-in, the project focuses not just on students, but on educators as well. Applications include online learning opportunities for students and educators affiliated with all grade levels and types of institutions; remote video resources and online collaboration opportunities for students and educators; and increased access to teaching, curriculum and professional development resources for educators of all types.

Library

With the advent of Alberta SuperNet, the provincial library’s tertiary locations now serve as access points for distance education, video conferencing, electronic library access, collaboration opportunities, and economic development tools for Albertans. Using the network, Alberta’s library system now provides Talononline.ca, a service that enables library users to search and request materials from nearly ever  public, college, and university library across Alberta; gives public library users access to licenses databases from home using their library cards; and allows public library users to submit a reference question from any remote location and receive an answer within 48 hours.

Health Care

Of particular importance for rural providers and consumers, the Alberta SuperNet focuses on information sharing in the health care realm. Using the network, health care practitioners can benefit from sharing patient information between facilities via real-time records transfer. In addition, practitioners, even those in remote areas, can engage in online consultations with clinical specialists and participate in electronic learning opportunities that were previously unavailable to them.

Government

Municipalities were also a critical component of Alberta SuperNet’s strategy from the outset. The province wanted to enable its municipal governments to deliver programs and services more effectively and efficiently, focusing on citizen engagement and satisfaction. In many of Alberta’s municipalities, citizens can pay parking tickets online, communicate with municipal departments, register for local recreation and educational programs, and research civic bylaws.

By forging an innovative partnership with Bell Canada and Axia SuperNet LTD., the government of Alberta has formed one of the most successful municipal broadband networks in North America, effectively providing universal Internet access to provincial communities both urban and rural. Currently, Alberta SuperNet offers 80% of the province’s residents access to a high-speed Internet connection via 81 service providers that have contracts with the private-sector operator of the network.   By engaging community stakeholders and developing a public-private partnership, Alberta has established a model 21st century municipal broadband network that other municipalities can emulate.

 

  1. Canada Connects on Broadband and Economic Development “Alberta SuperNet” . http://www.canadaconnects.ca/braodband/main/1111/  Accessed 7/9/2008
  2. Wikipedia. “Alberta SuperNet” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta_SuperNet Accessed 7/9/2008
  3. Alberta. Ca. News Release: “Alberta SuperNet Now Operational Throughout the Province” September 30, 2005.  http://www.gov.ab.ca/acn/200509/18828F93E02E6-F2D6-4F55-99D3CC5C2E0424EF.html
  4. Alberta SuperNet. http/www.albertasupernet.ca Accessed 7/9/2008
  5. Wikipedia. “Alberta SuperNet” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta_SuperNet Accessed 7/9/2008
  6. Wikipedia. “Alberta SuperNet” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta_SuperNet Accessed 7/9/2008
  7. Canada Connects on Broadband and Economic Development “Alberta SuperNet” . http://www.canadaconnects.ca/braodband/main/1111/  Accessed 7/9/2008
  8. Alberta SuperNet. http/www.albertasupernet.ca Accessed 7/9/2008; Learn Alberta. http/www.learnalberta.ca Access 7/9/2008
  9. Alberta SuperNet. http/www.albertasupernet.ca Accessed 7/9/2008
  10. Alberta SuperNet. http/www.albertasupernet.ca Accessed 7/9/2008
  11. Alberta SuperNet. http/www.albertasupernet.ca Accessed 7/9/2008
  12. This compares to 7 service providers operating outside of Alberta’s 2 largest metropolitan centers before the advent of Alberta SuperNet. Source: Wikipedia.