3G HSPA Broadband Pricing and Capacity - Revised

I am frequently asked about the 3G HSPA Broadband (high speed Internet). service currently offered along Hwy 17 from Sault Ste Marie to Sudbury and which will be offered along the Hwy 17 Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay corridor by the end of 2011. 
The following collection of public links and information is provided as examples of services obtainable. ADnet neither endorses nor receives compensation from any of the vendors identified. It is considered accurate at the time of posting but is subject to change at the whim of the vendor or a CRTC ruling.
3G HSPA technology uses the cellular network as the medium to deliver Broadband (high speed Internet). It is an order of magnitude improvement over the previous 2.5G technology. The service is available as a standalone data package or bundled with other vendor offerings. It provides a nominal download speed of 7 Mbps at the cell site but degrades the farther the user is from the cell site. At about 5 km, the data rate is approximately 1 Mbps. The user receives the service via a hardware USB data stick or a wireless/Ethernet data hub. A nice feature of the data stick approach is its portability, a feature the frequent traveller will appreciate.
The main drawback with the 3G HSPA system is that it can become very expensive if care is not taken to monitor downloads to ensure the cap is not exceeded.  There are a number of software programs available that monitor data usage and can be set up to warn you when certain data levels are reached.
3G HSPA Access Hardware
Bell Turbo Hub – HSPA Data Service
http://www.bell.ca/shopping/en_CA_ON.Turbo-Hub/70193.details?contractId=term24m
Bell Data stick – HSPA Data
http://www.bell.ca/shopping/en_CA_ON.Novatel-Wireless-U998/69067.details?promo=true&contractId=term24m
Bell pricing for Data plans (the voice add-on is a version of VoIP not cellular)
http://www.bell.ca/shopping/Turbo-Hub-Flex-Plan/THUB.details
Rogers Turbo Hub – HSPA Data Service
http://www.rogers.com/web/content/internet-mobile/rockethub
Tbaytel Data Hub _ HSPA Data Service
http://www.tbaytel.net/residential/mobility/promotions/internet.shtml

Data Cap Bell  Rogers Tbaytel Flex Rate Per GB Flex Rate Per GB Flex Rate  Per GB  3 GB $45.00 $15.00 $45.00 $15.00 $35.00  $11.68 5 GB $55.00 $11.00 $ 55.00 $11.00 $45.00  $9.00  10 GB  $70.00 $7.00 $70.00 $7.00 $60.00  $6.00  15 GB $90.00 $4.50 20 GB  $75.00  $3.75
Bell and Rogers Data Compared based on Bell's Deferral Account Submission and Rogers Data Calculator
Sample Traffic	Bell	Rogers
50,000 E-mails	2 GB	1.2 GB
4,000 E-mails with large attachments	2 GB	1.31 GB
20,000 Web pages	2 GB	4.75 GB

Broadband Canada Announcements 09 Jul 10

The Broadband Canada announcements are coming fast and furious. Another round of announcements was released on 09 Jul 10 including three in Northern Ontario but not in the Algoma District. Based on the companies named, they appear to be fixed wireless and satellite based systems. 

The full list is available at http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/719.nsf/eng/00050.html#july-06-2010 

Company	Region
Spectrum Telecom Group Ltd. / Blue Sky Economic Growth Corporation	Beaucage, Chisholm, Rutherglen, Nipissing, West Nipissing, Sundrige, Strong, Estair, Wahnapitei, Skerryvore, Shawanaga, Bell Lake, Bonfield, McDougall, McMurrich, Armour
Galaxy Broadband Communications Inc.	Cochrane District
TBay Tel / Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre Inc.	Oliver-Paipoonge, Fort William, Neebing, Township of Shuniah

 

 

Broadband Canada Update

Broadband Canada published a second round of  vendor selections on 06 Jul 10. All seven locations are in the province of Quebec. Details can be found at http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/719.nsf/eng/00050.html#july-06-2010 . This link also contains a link to a map showing the coverage of the projects announced to date.

Latest Reports on Batchawana Installations

I have received reports that Quattra SCS of Sault Ste. Marie has been contacting potential TBayTel fixed wireless broadband customers in range of the Batchawana site to arrange for appointments to install the necessary hardware. I am still awaiting confirmation from either a customer or the TBayTel head office that installations are in fact taking place. 

Still No News On North Sault Area

TBayTel informed me at noon on 24 Jun 10 there was still no news on any of the points raised on Tuesday. The issues were taken to senior management but responses have not yet trickled down. 

TBay Tel Regional In-Fill (RIF) News 22 June 10

I took part in a lengthy teleconference with TBayTel personnel on Monday, 21 Jun 10. Areas of concern were :

a. Delays in commissioning of the Heyden cell and broadband site;
b. Why the availability of broadband off the Batchawana site is still not available four weeks after the broadband equipment was declared operational;
c. Why a potential customer was charged $95.00 for a site signal check when the TBayTel web site clearly states there will be no charge if there is no signal;
d. Deployment schedule for remainder of sites in the Algoma District portion of the RIF: Goulais, Flour Bay, Carp River and Michipicoten;
e. Lack of TBayTel generated information; and
f.  TBayTel and Rogers HSPA overlay status

 

A. A technical dispute between TBayTel and Allstream about mounting backhaul and broadband equipment on the Bellevue tower is delaying the activation of the Heyden site. The companies’ structural engineers are not in agreement over hardware loads and mounting hardware. No new due date was provided.

B. The network managers could not explain why the Batchawana site was not actively connecting customers. There was a suspicion that it may have something to do with consolidating enough requests to make the dispatch of a technical to the area economical. TBayTel will get back to me with additional information.

C. TBayTel agreed that the website would indicate there is no charge for a site visit. The normal procedure is to do an assessment of service availability at a location using frequency mapping software in association with Google Earth. If the signal is charted as good or marginal, a technician is dispatched at no charge. If a customer insists on a site visit after being told it not likely a signal can be received in the area, then a charge is levied if no signal is received. 

D. The target date to finish the reaming sites is 31 Dec 2010. The Goulais site has been selected at Buttermilk Resort and the necessary consultative processes are now in progress. The other three sites have not been finalized.

E. TBayTel admitted the information and publicity on the service was not very good and would take action to improve in this area.

F. Work on the HSPA overlay has already started in the western end of the network and should be available in the Algoma District in the fall of 2010. The CDMA (Bell/Telus) will be continued for the foreseeable future.

 

TBayTel promised to provide some follow on information and this will be posted as it is received.

Bell Deferral Account Proposal

 

Bell Aliant submitted a Deferral Account implementation package on 15 Jan 10 as requested by the CRTC on 25 Sep 09. It was published on the CRTC website on 20 Jan 10 and a copy is attached. Bell Aliant is proposing to serve the designated Deferral Account area by means of it High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) technology. This wireless based broadband (high speed Internet) service will make use of the Bell cellular infrastructure but will be a separate service offering with its own tariff. Known as Retail Wireless Broadband Service, Bell Aliant is asking the CRTC for approval of the following rate structure:

 

Monthly Rate - $31.95
Download Speed - Up to 2Mbps
Upload Speed - Up to 800Kbps
Monthly Usage Allowance - 2 Gigabytes (GB)
Charge for Additional Usage - $2.50/GB
One-Time Activation Fee - $35
Hardware - No charge
Term – Monthly

Included Services

5 e-mail addresses
Web-based mail
Connection Manager software
Basic Security services
Online storage (5MB)

The service will be billed one month in advance with a 30-day cancellation notice period. 

 

This rate structure will only apply to the Deferral Account home area of the user. Access outside the users’ home area will be billed at the normal Bell tariff rates.

 

Unlike the other carriers’ submission, the Bell Aliant submission did not include a detailed implementation schedule. Bell Aliant indicated they would provide the detailed schedule on 26 Feb 10. Their reasoning was they needed CRTC approval of the tariff before setting the schedule.

 

While a bit of surprise, a cursory review indicates that the proposal meets all the prerequisites of the CRTC Deferral Account decision. The greatest advantage is that it can be activated in many areas quickly after CRTC approval. Doubtlessly some Deferral Account areas will require the construction of additional access points but this should be made clear in the 28 Feb 10 submission.