Current Broadband Initiatives
Ottawa’s Rural Communities Network (ORCnet)
The extension of broadband access to rural communities is
led by Ottawa's Rural Communities Network (ORCnet), a community-based
organization managed by OCRI. This grass roots private/public
partnership of local business and community leaders was formed
in 2003 to aggregate demand for high-speed services and facilitate
broadband deployment.
ORCnet identifies potential areas not currently serviced
by broadband and then coordinates public meetings to gauge
the interest in having broadband capability extended to their
area. Specifically, ORCnet has identified that access to broadband
in rural Ottawa has increased by 43 per cent in 2001-05 as
a result of its demand aggregation initiatives.
Broadband Applications
Broadband access to the Internet by Ottawa citizens, businesses
and the MUSH (municipal, university, school and health sector)
is a priority for OCRI’s SmartCapital and for the City
of Ottawa.
OttawaRAN
In addition to existing Internet connections, Ottawa’s
universities, colleges and hospitals, are also connected via
fibre to the Ottawa Regional Advanced Network (OttawaRAN).
This network is managed by OCRI and funded by its members.
OttawaRAN connects these institutions to Ontario’s ORION
network and to CANARIE’s CA*net4—the national
broadband network.
Eastern Ontario Broadband Coalition
OCRI’s broadband strategy includes a leadership role
with the Eastern Ontario Broadband Coalition (EOBC). The EOBC
is made up of community stakeholders working together to provide
broadband connectivity to the region’s residents, businesses
and institutions.
Broadband Development Seminars
OCRI regularly partners with the City of Ottawa to promote
the development of broadband applications and uptake. In 2005,
business owners from Ottawa and across Eastern Ontario gathered
to learn how Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology
could help their business profitability and productivity.
Ottawa-Montreal Corridor
Recently OCRI joined forces with Montreal International to
study connectivity requirements and trends in the two cities.
This study arose from a meeting between the Mayors of Ottawa
and Montréal in May 2005 and the outcome - a joint
white paper - sets out a proposal for future priorities and
needed outcomes to achieve the goal of very high-speed connectivity
in the two cities. |
