FAQs

Without access to reliable, high speed internet connectivity (known as broadband), local businesses are unable to fully take advantage of business technology that will allow them to grow and operate efficiently and effectively. Reliable broadband is a staple for businesses to provide online sales and services, use video conferencing to communicate with customers and employees, and use cloud business solutions. The pandemic has really shown the need for broadband and online services and is expected to continue to grow, post-pandemic.

During the broadband network construction, between August 2021 and January 2022, there will be no charge associated with extending fibre optic infrastructure to your business or building.  The efficiency of installing the fibre optic functionality to your property while our contractor works the network into the road right of ways will allow us a very efficient install to you.  There is no requirement to sign up for future services at this time.

If you do not decide to install fibre to your data room during our construction window, we will have fibre available for you and it will be securely stored in the public road right of way at the edge of your property.  It will typically cost $3000.00 to $5000.00 to complete the install in the future so it is a great advantage to sign up for installation during construction…as soon as possible!

The City of Lethbridge has contracted RPB Industries to design and install the fibre optic network in Sherring and Churchill Parks.  RPB Industries has expertise in horizontal directional drilling and fibre optic network installation which will allow them to complete the work with minimal disruption to the right of way and your property.

Simply give us a call at 403-320-4166 or email us at fibreoptics@lethbridge.ca or visit our webpage at https://getinvolvedlethbridge.ca/broadband-pilot.  We will arrange to have someone come to your business and provide you with the information you are after and capture important details required for installation of facilities in an Access and Entry Agreement.

We are currently researching the marketplace to find an operator for the broadband system once construction is complete.   The successful proponent will operate the network and provide all services to customers.  You will receive all the details about available packages and pricing for services from the new operator who is normally referred to as the Internet Service Provider or ISP.

The City of Lethbridge will be the infrastructure owner and will insure that the chosen ISP is customer centric and providing competitive rates for excellent services!

The successful ISP will be responsible for all network operations including customer service, billing, and repairs.  In addition, the ISP will install the inside wiring and devices required to connect the fibre optic connection to your business infrastructure to bring the clear advantage of broadband connectivity to your operations!

That is being work out  through the process of selecting an operator for the broadband system.  Once an operator has been agreed upon they will begin communications with customers explaining available packages and pricing for services.

Once the internet service provider, or ISP, is chosen from our operations competition they will confirm the services and pricing that will be offered.  The fibre optic network we are installing offers high speed data rates (up to 1 Gbit/s or 1000 Mbit/s) which are far superior from standard offerings in the industrial parks today.  It is typical for an ISP to offer an array of product offerings from simply internet connectivity to what are referred to as “triple play” packages including internet, telephone, and television service.  It will be your choice!

Our current schedule of construction and network operations indicates that we will have the system ready for use by March 31, 2022.  We will provide updates to all customers who “subscribe” to updates on our website at https://getinvolvedlethbridge.ca/broadband-pilot

We will be completing all work on the network prior to offering services to insure that when the network is turned on that all customers will be able to count on reliable services for the long term.

Directional drilling techniques will be used to install facilities and these techniques do not cause large scale disruption of parking areas or business access like traditional open trench digging did years ago.  A simple pit is dug in the right of way and at the edge of your building where the fibre optic cable will be terminated ready for future use.  

If the best path to install the fibre optic cable crosses existing utilities, the installers will find those facilities prior to starting the new installation to insure safety and continuity of all services.  All new facilities will be buried to a depth of 1 m to insure they are kept safe during future parking lot work that may be required.  So worst case, there will be limited disruption to your parking areas for a day or two to complete the installation.  All details will be reviewed with you by RPB Industries, our installation contractor, prior to work commencing.

If there is an existing conduit on your property that connects the public right of way to your data room, RPB Industries will assess if it can be used to add your fibre optic connection and thus minimizing any disruption to your property.

All surface repairs will be made to your property and the public right of way by RPB Industries as part of their contractual agreement with the City of Lethbridge.  There will be no cost to you for this service if you take advantage of our offer of installation during project construction.

City Council has received feedback from businesses in the Industrial Parks about poor service being offered by the traditional telephone and data providers in these areas.  In addition, the Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Lethbridge brought serious concerns to City Council about how the lack of affordable high speed internet service in the Industrial Parks is hampering business development and growth of their members.  When City Council had the opportunity to fund a pilot project in these areas they immediately requested City Administration take action.

No, the Broadband Pilot is being funded through grant money provided through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) COVID-19 Resiliency Fund and the City of Lethbridge Capital Improvement Program 2021.  Ongoing subscription fees for using the modern fibre optic based communications network (Broadband Network) will pay for the operating expenses associated with the system.

If you have a long term contract with an existing ISP you may consider adding the City of Lethbridge service on top of what you have in order to compare what having a high speed broadband connection would mean to your business.  Some customers have told us they plan on separating business and casual staff data traffic to insure availability of high speed data for business purposes.  Even if you don’t plan on taking service right away from the City of Lethbridge system it is important that you sign up for installation of fibre optics so it will be available when the day comes that you want to leverage this important addition to the Industrial Park for your business.