The City of New Westminster is getting set to unveil BridgeNet.
Residents and businesses are invited to attend the city’s launch of BridgeNet on June 21, a city-owned open-access fibre optic network that’s currently being installed.
“The benefits of dark fibre are wide-ranging, affecting a broad spectrum of industries and improving connectivity for residents and businesses in a multitude of ways,” said Mayor Jonathan Cote. “Affordable access to broadband fibre provides a fertile field for connectivity, innovation and economic growth.”
The city is launching BridgeNet on Tuesday, June 21 at 5 p.m. at Anvil Centre. Several internet service providers will attend the launch to discuss their services and offerings and industry professionals will discuss how the community will benefit from access to gigabit internet.
On Monday, city council authorized the mayor and city clerk to sign internet service provider (ISP) agreements on behalf of council.
“The fibre network, which we are hoping to launch in the fall of this year and actually go live, is an open access network in that multiple companies can lease from the city and then sell directly,” Cote said. “Currently there are four ISPs that are very interested in leasing our fibre and then they would do the work to sell directly to the customers.”
The launch will provide community with more details about how the BridgeNet will be phased in in New West.
“Certain parts of the city will light up over about five different phases,” Cote said. “The early stages are definitely going to be the high-density neighbourhoods because the business case makes a lot more sense for the high-density areas and for businesses that are located in the downtown and uptown. Then it will be any building with 50 or more units, but there is a phased-in approach to deal with that.”
To register for the BridgeNet launch, go to www.newwestcity.ca and go to the What’s New tab.
“I think a lot of people in the city are actually unaware that this network is going to be going live and there is going to be more internet choice in New Westminster than there has been in the past,” Cote said. “Our main goal with all of this is really to be the city that has the fastest internet at the most competitive prices in the entire region.”
The network, which will connect commercial centres through the city, is a pivotal piece of New Westminster’s Intelligent City initiative.
“BridgeNet is a key part in our efforts to become a leading Intelligent City,” said Coun. Bill Harper, co-chair of the city’s Intelligent City advisory committee. “Through BridgeNet, New Westminster is laying the groundwork needed to create a sustainable climate of innovation, and built a competitive and healthy community for citizens.”
