Study Shows New Brunswick Has Canada’s Best Internet

New Brunswick officals say access to high-speed Internet and providing reliable cell coverage are helping to make the province a nationwide leader in connectivity and to develop the information and communications technology and cybersecurity sectors of the economy. 

The Canadian Internet Registration Authority says New Brunswick has the best internet access in the country, with average download speeds of around 27 megabytes per second.

Premier Brian Gallant, who is also minister responsible for innovation, says a Queen’s University study that found the deployment of broadband promotes employment growth in rural regions, which helps businesses overcome geographic barriers. He said this fits well with the provincial government’s top priority of job creation.

Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries Minister Rick Doucet, who is also minister responsible for Opportunities NB says connectivity is crucial in today’s economic climate. The provincial government has worked with the private sector since 2003 to increase connectivity for all New Brunswickers by investing in broadband and cellular improvements, including $18 million with Xplornet Communications, to provide broadband to about 43,000 rural homes and businesses; and  $12.7 million with Bell Canada to improve urban and rural broadband.

Doucet says the provincial government is investing $8 million over the next two years for the construction of 10 new radio towers that can be used by the private sector to locate cellular and wireless broadband services.

Private-sector telecommunications companies have also invested in New Brunswick. Rogers has invested $500 million over the last three decades and the Fredericton-based F6 Networks invested $8 million in fibre-optic infrastructure in 2013-14. In addition, Bell Canada has invested $60 million to build its fibre-optic network in the province, and Xplornet Communications spent $26 million in its efforts to provide broadband service in rural areas.

Information submitted to us as part of a press release. If you would like to share your community news or event with our audience, please email newspi@townsquaremedia.com.