TELUS has deployed FTTP networks in 25 municipalities in Alberta, including 20 with a population of less than 10,000. Internet, voice and television are available over their PureFibre service in a number of rural communities, as laid out in TELUS’ map89. Advertised internet speeds available in rural fibre communities are the same as in urban centres.
During the latter days of the first SuperNet contract, Axia Netmedia Ltd created a retail internet service subsidiary called Axia Connect. This company offered FTTP solutions to rural communities, and established services in 11 municipalities. After Bell won the second SuperNet contract and acquired Axia Netmedia, it subsequently sold the Axia Connect company to TELUS in 201990. As of March 2021, Bell and TELUS continue to work on the transition process to add these 11 locations to TELUS’ PureFibre services, which will increase that service to 36 municipalities served in Alberta.
Xplornet is a national ISP that caters exclusively to rural and remote communities in Canada. In Alberta, it offers fixed wireless (up to 5G services now) and satellite solutions. The company has also begun rolling out FTTP solutions in other parts of Canada, and is planning to do the same in Alberta in more densely populated communities. Xplornet expects to offer FTTP in some areas by 202291.
Please see the Municipal/Community Networks section for more information about rural fibre in Olds and Waterton.
References
89TELUS. TELUS Fibre. Accessed 23 February 2021.
90Axia. Transition | Axia. Accessed 03 March 2021.
91Xplornet. Email from Vice-President Business Development – Western Canada.