Parkland County has utilized provincial and federal grants to construct a wireless communications network comprised of 20 towers for service providers to collocate on, thereby extending wireless broadband and mobility coverage. Three of the towers are or will be connected with fibre by fall 2016, and the remaining 17 utilize a microwave connection. The towers are designed to serve a full range of rural communications service providers, including: broadband (internet), mobility (cell), public safety (fire, police, ambulance) and enterprise customers.
This model is intended to allow providers who offer different wireless services to residents and businesses to be accommodated on each tower. The County is not a Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP), but provides infrastructure for the use of WISPs in return for rent (which covers the operating costs of the towers).67 Parkland is the first county in Canada to pioneer this model. Parkland now faces the challenge of improving network capacity with fibre to each tower and encouraging a competitive service environment for ISPs.68
References
67. Parkland County. SMART Parkland Intelligent Community. Accessed 8 July 2016.
68. Parkland County. Phone conversation with Barb Scully, Connected Communities Coordinator, July 12, 2016.