Connect the Basin
The Connect the Basin project will bring high-speed connectivity to more rural communities and areas in the Columbia Basin. This new multi-year, $82-million project is being funded by the federal and provincial governments, the regional districts of Central Kootenay, Columbia Shuswap, Kootenay Boundary, East Kootenay and Columbia Basin Trust, creating access to high-speed internet for 5,429 homes.
To better connect more rural households, this project includes some expansion of the Trust’s current fibre optic network and will establish a last-mile network, infrastructure that Internet service providers can use to deliver high-speed Internet.
Project Milestones
First steps are finalizing project design and permitting. This project has an overall scheduled completion date of March 2027.
Communities
Household eligibility is determined by the federal government, based on which areas they believe to have speeds that are less than 50 Mbps download / 10 Mbps upload or 50/10, the Universal Service Objective.
The project is expected to bring fibre to 5,429 homes in 59 communities in the regional districts of Central Kootenay, Columbia Shuswap, Kootenay Boundary and East Kootenay including: Appledale, Baynes Lake, Blaeberry, Brandon, Burton, Caithness, Carrolls Landing, Cassimayooks No.5 (ʔaq̓am), Castledale, Donald, East Arrow Park, Edgewood, Elko, Erie, Fauquier, Field, Forde, Fort Steele, Galloway, Grasmere, Hall, Harrogate, Hills, Jersey, Kicking Horse, Kragmont, Lebahdo, Lemon Creek, Makinson, Mayook, Meadowbrook, Meadows, Moberly, Monroe Lake, Nelway, New Denver, Nicholson, Park Siding, Parson, Passmore, Perrys, Porto Rico, Roosville, Rosebery, Ross Spur, Rural Slocan, Rural Salmo, Silverton including Red Mountain Rd., Skookumchuck, Slocan Park, Spillimacheen, Summit Lake, Sweetwater, Ta Ta Creek, Tobacco Plains (Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi ‘it First Nation), Vallican, Wardner, Winlaw and Rural Ymir.
Communities that will benefit from the project are displayed on the map below, in red, zoom in to explore each community closer.
Construction Techniques
Aerial
Aerial fibre optic construction involves the installation of fibre optic cable on existing utility/communications poles.
Aerial fibre construction is the most common method of deployment on the Trust’s network and is generally more affordable than underground deployment, but more expensive than submarine deployments.
Aerial fibre is most at-risk of damage due to environmental hazards such as fires, mudslides, rockslides, avalanches, etc. and is costly to operate due to costs associated with renting pole space but is relatively affordable to maintain and repair in the event of damage.
Underground
Underground fibre optic construction involves the installation of fibre optic cable into conduit that is buried underground.
Underground fibre construction is common in rural areas and in areas where there are no existing utility or communications poles. Underground deployment is the most expensive method of fibre installation due to the requirement of significant labour.
Underground fibre is generally safe from environmental risks such as fires, mudslides, rockslides, avalanches, etc. and is very inexpensive to operate but very expensive to maintain and repair in the event of damage due to access issues, especially in cold weather.
Submarine
Submarine fibre optic construction involves the installation of fibre optic cable directly into fresh or salt water environments.
Traditionally, submarine construction is very expensive due to the high material costs associated with deploying cable that is resistant to damage from water and water pressure. However, the Trust has developed a submarine fibre cable that is capable of withstanding freshwater environments at a fraction of the cost of traditional underwater cable.
Submarine fibre is relatively safe from environmental risks such as fires, mudslides, rockslides, avalanches, etc. and is very inexpensive to operate but is very expensive to maintain and repair in the (unlikely) event of damage due to access issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
What will this project do?
This is a multi-year project that will improve high-speed Internet connectivity throughout the Basin in more rural areas. This project includes some expansion of the Trust’s regional fibre network (the fibre between communities) but is primarily a last mile fibre build, bringing fibre access to homes. People living in those areas of the Basin can then connect with an Internet Service Provider to sign up for service once the project build is complete.
What is the timeline for this project?
This is a complex multi-year project that will see construction occur in communities around the Basin. The first steps are to finalize the design, apply for permits from third parties and engage contractors. These activities must occur before any construction begins and are expected to take significant time to complete.
It is a requirement of the UBF that all projects be completed by March 2027.
Which communities will benefit?
The Trust applied for as many rural households as it could that were deemed eligible by the federal government. This project will bring fibre to approximately 5,429 homes in 59 rural communities in the regional districts of Central Kootenay, Columbia Shuswap, Kootenay Boundary and East Kootenay including: Appledale, Baynes Lake, Blaeberry, Brandon, Burton, Caithness, Carrolls Landing, Cassimayooks No.5 (ʔaq̓am), Castledale, Donald, East Arrow Park, Edgewood, Elko, Erie, Fauquier, Field, Forde, Fort Steele, Galloway, Grasmere, Hall, Harrogate, Hills, Jersey, Kicking Horse, Kragmont, Lebahdo, Lemon Creek, Makinson, Mayook, Meadowbrook, Meadows, Moberly, Monroe Lake, Nelway, New Denver, Nicholson, Park Siding, Parson, Passmore, Perrys, Porto Rico, Roosville, Rosebery, Ross Spur, Rural Slocan, Rural Salmo, Silverton including Red Mountain Rd., Skookumchuck, Slocan Park, Spillimacheen, Summit Lake, Sweetwater, Ta Ta Creek, Tobacco Plains (Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi ‘it First Nation), Vallican, Wardner, Winlaw and Rural Ymir.
Infrastructure may not be deployed throughout an entire community but rather in specific, federally eligible areas.
Explore the community map for details.
How were households identified for this project?
The federal government sets the eligibility based on which areas they believe to have speeds that are less than 50 Mbps download / 10 Mbps upload also known as 50/10, the Universal Service Objective. The Trust developed this project to serve as many of these federally eligible areas as possible.
My community is not listed. What does this mean for me?
The Trust applied for as many households as it could that were deemed eligible by the federal/provincial governments.
How can I get connected?
Once the project is completed, people living in the Basin can connect with a local Internet Service Provider to sign up for service. Costs and packages available will be dependent on each ISP.
What kind of installation methods are used in these projects?
The Trust will use a variety of installation methods depending on where the fibre is being built, such as underground, submarine and aerial. Regardless of methodology, the Trust will employ best practice techniques, and comply with all regulatory and permitting requirements.
Who will complete the fibre build?
The Trust will tender construction and select a qualified contractor or contractors.