Axia Connect (a subsidiary of Axia NetMedia) has begun investing in FTTP networks in small communities. Fibre internet is now available in Vulcan, Nanton and Nobleford. Construction on fibre networks in Barnwell,88 Stirling,88 and Pincher Creek90 was announced in spring 2016. Before investing in a community fibre build, Axia first requires that 30% of homes and businesses in the town register their interest at Axia.com. Axia’s fibre plans start at $59/month for 25 Mbps symmetric service on a two year contract. Ontario based VMedia has also partnered with Axia to offer Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone service and television packages in Axia’s FTTP communities.91
TELUS has deployed or is in the process of deploying FTTP networks in 24 regions 25 municipalities in Alberta, including 17 communities 20 with a population of less than 10,000, under a similar initiative. Internet, voice and television services will soon be are available over fibre their PureFibre service in a number of rural communities, as laid out in Telus’ TELUS’ map89. 92 Advertised internet speeds available in rural fibre communities are the same as in the urban centres.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 Canada88. Axia. Barnwell to become next fibre optic community, 13 April 2016. Accessed 10 June, 2016.
89. Axia. Axia announces fibre optic expansion to Stirling, AB, 1 June 2016. Accessed 10 June 2016.
90. Axia. Axia announces fibre optic expansion to Pincher Creek, AB, 22 June 2016. Accessed 29 July 2016.
91. Axia. VMedia offers Axia customers a new way of watching TV, 24 May 2016. Accessed 12 June 2016.
92. Telus. Telus Fibre. Accessed 10 June 2016.