High-speed Connectivity
Access to reliable, affordable high-speed Internet connectivity in rural communities and all areas of the Basin is critical to ensuring residents can access the economic and social benefits brought by technology including access to health and wellness information, participate in school or work opportunities and stay informed during an emergency.
People living in the Basin have told us that high-speed connectivity is important to them. This is why the Trust is working to make high-speed Internet connectivity available throughout the region. This work is being done through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Columbia Basin Broadband Corporation.
Columbia Basin Broadband Corporation
Columbia Basin Broadband Corporation (CBBC) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Columbia Basin Trust created to improve connectivity to Basin communities and rural areas.
The Trust provides funding support for CBBC’s ongoing operating costs and the costs of activating CBBC’s fibre optic network in the region. CBBC acts as the network manager, operator and developer, and as a resource to service providers.
Through CBBC, we are:
- developing, activating and maintaining a regional high-speed fibre optic network
- creating connection points in the network so that Internet Service Providers or communities can connect to it
- helping Internet Service Providers improve their infrastructure so they can offer higher speeds to customers, plus exploring other means of support
- helping communities bring high-speed Internet to their business cores
- providing direct services to local government customers and other large entities
- exploring opportunities to evolve and expand the network to meet the region’s needs.
About Broadband
When it comes to Internet service, the words “broadband” and “high-speed” essentially mean the same thing. Different broadband services may connect users to the Internet in different ways, but they all offer high-speed service.
The Trust’s broadband network is a linked series of fibre optic cables made up of many glass strands, each about the thickness of a human hair. The fibre is placed in various ways, either aerial (above ground on telephone poles), buried underground or submarine (installed directly into fresh or saltwater environments) around the Basin. To transfer much information at once, the system converts the data into light signals that move at high speed and high volume.
The Trust owns the regional high-speed fibre optic network or fibre backbone. Internet Service Providers can then connect to the network, which enables them to offer wired or wireless high-speed service to people living in communities around the Basin.
The Trust’s network includes some last-mile fibre (the fibre that goes right into the community), currently serving businesses in Trail, Waneta and Rossland but with the announcement of the Connect the Basin project, the Trust will be significantly expanding last-mile fibre to better connect rural households.
The Trust operates an open access network meaning, any Internet Service Provider registered with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission and wishing to provide Internet services to Basin residents and businesses can access our network by connecting to us at any point-of-presence.
Internet Service Provider
We work with service providers in several ways to help them deliver service to their customers. Learn more here.
Access to High-speed Internet
You can connect with an Internet Service Provider in your area to learn about how you can access the network. We do most of our work behind the scenes, which means we generally don’t deal directly with end users.
We work with Internet Service Providers throughout the Basin that deliver services directly to people’s homes. Click on your region to see which ISPs we are working with within your area.
North Basin
Southeast Basin
Projects
Active Projects
Connect the Basin
To better connect more rural households, this project includes some expansion of the regional network (the fibre between communities) but is primarily a last mile fibre build, bringing fibre access to the home.
The project has received funding from the federal government through the Universal Broadband Fund, the provincial government through the Connecting British Columbia program, the Regional Districts of Central Kootenay, Columbia Shuswap, Kootenay-Boundary, East Kootenay and the Trust.
Learn more about this project here.
Fruitvale to Nelson Fibre Optic Backbone
The Trust is currently building fibre optic backbone between Fruitvale and Nelson. This additional fibre will connect to the existing network.
This project has received funding from the federal government through the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, the provincial government through the Connecting BC program, the Regional District of Central Kootenay and the Trust.
Learn more about this project here.
Kimberley to Wasa Fibre Optic Backbone
The Trust is currently building fibre optic backbone between Kimberley and Wasa. This additional fibre will connect to the existing network.
This project has received funding from the federal government through the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, the provincial government through the Connecting BC program the Regional District of East Kootenay and the Trust.
Learn more about this project here.
Completed Projects
Slocan Valley Fibre Optic Backbone
In partnership with the Regional District of Central Kootenay and the Villages of Slocan, Silverton, New Denver and Nakusp, the Trust built fibre optic backbone between Playmor Junction and Shoreholme, just north of Nakusp.
Funding was received from the Province of BC through the Connecting British Columbia program, the Regional District of Central Kootenay, Village of Nakusp, Village of Slocan, the Village of Silverton and the Village of New Denver, as well as the Trust.
Learn about about this project here.
South Country Fibre Optic Backbone
In partnership with the Regional District of East Kootenay, the Trust built fibre optic backbone between Jaffray and Roosville.
Funding was received from the Province through the Connecting British Columbia program, the Regional District of East Kootenay and the Trust.
Learn more about this project here.
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