An Okotoks-based telecommunications company is one of several receiving letters of support from Foothills County for Internet project funding.
NetWisper submitted a request to the County in January for support of its application to Canada’s Universal Broadband Fund for money that would help the five-year-old company expand its rural Internet offerings.
The company initially started up with a limited budget and set its sights on providing service to residents within 30 minutes of its head office and main tower in Okotoks.
“We were determined to make it work without going into huge debt,” said Steve Finlayson, field operations manager for NetWisper. “We’ve been growing slowly and learning along the way.”
Grant money would be put toward expanding the coverage area and increasing Internet speed and reliability, as well as upgrading technology, he said.
“We are currently testing hardware that will provide 2GB speeds to the end user,” said Finlayson.
Service is provided via fixed wireless with towers between 30 to 50 feet, either stand-alone or mounted on existing structures like one of the barns at the Calgary Polo Club, he said.
The company is also working on two fibre projects utilizing new technology, he said.
“Our business model wouldn’t change overall, we’d still use the same sort of structures with the broadband funding, but we would expand more and increase reach,” said Finlayson.
County councillors agreed to send general letters of support for all applications for the Universal Broadband Fund that would directly benefit Foothills residents. To date they have been sent for NetWisper, Xplornet, Rig Star and TELUS on the current wave of funding.
“As long as we’re consistent with our letters for the different companies,” said Coun. Alan Alger. “I think we have to be consistent across the board.”
Reeve Suzanne Oel said there have been some positives to seeing various companies approach the County for support letters.
For one, it gives the County an opportunity to express its concerns over the construction of new towers and push for co-location of multiple companies on the same tower.
“A good thing coming out of this is we’re having direct communication with the telecommunications companies,” said Oel.
