Digital infrastructure has become the foundation for innovation, economic growth and market diversification in Canada. Our network infrastructure, in particular, drives productivity, growth and competitiveness, and serves as an integral component of how individuals connect and interact with each other.
As governments around the world plan for the future, digital infrastructure investments are being recognized as the bedrock upon which innovation in science and technology can be harnessed for the public good. In Alberta, digital infrastructure is critical in revolutionizing traditional industries, while creating entirely new ones. Understanding the current digital infrastructure landscape in the province will help create a strong strategic foundation to leverage these resources to maximize our potential.
As Alberta's not-for-profit organization responsible for driving economic growth through the use of digital technology, Cybera recognizes the importance of having a strong overview of the province’s digital resources. The first draft of the State of Alberta Digital Infrastructure Report was produced in 2014, and highlighted what was needed at that time to carry out advanced research and innovation in the province. Since that time, the digital infrastructure landscape in Alberta has constantly evolved, both at a technical and regulatory level.
This updated State of Alberta Digital Infrastructure Report provides a more focused review of Alberta’s current network connectivity. This includes an overview of opportunities for investing in Alberta’s internet infrastructure in a way that responds to multiple immediate needs, while laying the foundation for future research and innovation.
This 2021 update is intended to be part of a continually evolving review, as feedback from partner organizations and external stakeholders is received and incorporated. Cybera is committed to collaborating with invested stakeholders and key contacts to gather the full scope of information in an iterative and coordinated approach.
Readers of this report should bear in mind that while Cybera is the province’s expert technical agency, we do not have all the answers, and as such, rely heavily on our colleagues within our member institutions. As such, the facts and figures reported here may change as more of our colleagues have a chance to read and comment on the material. If readers are making critical decisions based on data in this report, we encourage them to contact the authors to ensure the very latest information is available.
Networking in Alberta at a Glance
Over the next decade, Alberta’s demand for bandwidth is expected to increase dramatically. This demand will likely be met by a wide variety of networking technologies, many of which are still being tested (including new satellite, drone and balloon delivery methods). But until these are commercially deployed, residents and businesses in many rural or remote regions of Alberta are still reliant on outdated or expensive internet connections. These groups continue to lag behind the urban centres when it comes to bandwidth availability, speed and cost.
By the numbers:
Expected annual growth rate of Canadian internet traffic between 2015-2020: 22% (2.7x today’s traffic)source
Percentage of low income households in Canada with internet access at home (as of 2013): 59.7%source
Current number of Albertans without access to internet at speeds of at least 5 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload: 80,000
Average Canadian download / upload speeds in 2015: 18.6 Mbps down / 7.3 Mbps upsource
Average rural Canadian speeds in 2015: 14.8 Mbps down / 6 Mbps up
Average Alberta speeds in 2015: 13.5 Mbps down / 5 Mbps up
Percentage of Albertans over the age of 18 who own a mobile device: 80%
Expected annual growth rate of Canadian mobile data traffic between 2015-2020: 42% (6x today’s traffic)
Expected annual growth rate of Canadian IP video traffic between 2015-2020: 20% (3x today’s traffic)
Recommendations for Improving Networking
Short-term (1-3 years)
Develop a provincial broadband strategy
Set a provincial target of 25 Mbps symmetric internet bandwidth
Establish a community to aggregate and facilitate rural broadband solutions
Ensure the new Alberta SuperNet agreements (due in 2018) allow Alberta to play a leadership role in broadband
Long-term (3-10 years)
- Develop a provincial plan to leverage federal funds and initiatives to expand broadband access into rural Alberta
Set a provincial target of 100 Mbps symmetric internet bandwidth
- Work with municipalities to open their fibre assets to public institutions and community based not-for-profit ISPs
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