City of Trail receives 180 applicants for fibre optic connections

Business-grade fibre broadband recently lit-up in downtown Trail.

Columbia Networks will be the first Internet Service Provider (ISP) to provide services on the new open access network. Initial business offerings include connectivity up to 100 Mbps (upload and download), email, offsite data storage and Microsoft Partner software licensing.

The open access model allows ISPs to compete for customers and offer a wide range of network services over fibre. Future services offerings may include telephone service, video security monitoring, data backup services, video conferencing, software as a service, e-learning, and e-medicine to name a few.

Don Freschi, Chair of the Trail Broadband Committee stated, “This is the first step towards building intelligent communities that allow our businesses to adapt and prosper in the growing digital economy.” Trail is well situated to host technology firms as it has good connectivity, a technology business incubator, and a new state of the art data centre.

Terry Van Horn, Economic Development Officer for the Lower Columbia Initiatives Corp (LCIC) says, “It’s exciting to see such an important initiative come to fruition.” Over the summer the LCIC worked with the Trail Broadband Committee and City of Trail to raise awareness of the network expansion. The City of Trail received over 180 applications for a FREE fibre optic connection. Duane Birnie, City of Trail Information Systems Coordinator stated, “We expected good uptake, but the number of connections requested was close to double what we anticipated.” Nearly every building in the downtown Trail service area took advantage of the free offering and can now connect to the network.

For more information on service packages available on the Trail Fibre network email Columbia Networks at [email protected] or call (888) 527-0540. For more information on the Trail Broadband initiative.

Contact the Lower Columbia Initiatives Corp (LCIC) at 250-364-6461 or [email protected] for information on the Lower Columbia region.