Canada to Receive Nationwide Wireless Broadband

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Canadian telecom giants Bell and Rogers have just announced plans to create a nationwide wireless broadband network reaching nearly two-thirds of Canadians in under 3 years. One would assume the system will make heavy use of long range wireless technologies like WiMax (802.16)

The joint effort (dubbed "Inukshuk") will create one of the most advanced wireless networks in the world. Bell and Rogers will each have the right to use 50 per cent of the network's total transmission capacity. Sales, marketing, end-user customer care and billing functions will be provided directly by Rogers and Bell to their respective customers. A Rogers executive remarked that "This agreement will keep Canada at the leading edge of next generation technologies."

View: Press Release

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(1 reply) #1 quick on 16 Sep 2005 - 18:09

Very cool, 3 years not bad. Lets hope its Wimax speeds... not some slow cell phone internet speeds

#1.1 zivan56 on 16 Sep 2005 - 23:38

Lets not forget folks that Bell and Rogers are one of the largest monopolies in Canada (both in TDMA cell networks, and Rogers runs the only GSM network in Canada). All this means is that they will be spending less of their money, and more of our money to put up something which will ultimately earn them money. Not to mention that they will also have a monopoly in the WISP business as well.
If they actually wanted to do something useful, they would allow unlimited traffic within Canada, and charge only for stuff that goes outside of the network.

Edit: After looking up http://www.inukshuk.ca/anglais/nous.html , I now see that this was orignally a Microcell project; Rogers bought Microcell a couple of months ago and is now claiming it is something new

#2 joekr on 16 Sep 2005 - 18:11

Look to the cookie (raises black and white cookie)... look to the cookie

#3 Khaz on 16 Sep 2005 - 18:14

It will be interesting to see how these two competitors share the load: economic game theory at it's finest! I know they are to share 50% of the transmission capacity...but will one company surpass the other? Joint effort is required these days - glad to see that two companies are stepping up to the challenge (especially in a mostly-rural country)

I will be VERY happy to be using public transport and IM'ing my friends at the bar, or surfing the net in my car 'cause I forgot the address of my destination

#4 Lexcyn on 16 Sep 2005 - 18:17

This is awesome. I'll be switching from my current provider when this comes out.

#5 TrekXP on 16 Sep 2005 - 18:17

Let's hope it provides the speed and relatively low cost to compete with DSL and Cable connections.

Cellphone connections with mobile wireless are extremely expensive at the moment.

Oh, and GO Vancouver 2010! Inukshuk Olympic logo.

#6 Deathray on 16 Sep 2005 - 18:19

This is great news... this could be to help push the use of cellphone or pda devices on the go with internet frequently. Sweet stuff, but I'm curious to see the actually speeds people will be able to get.

#7 Dale on 16 Sep 2005 - 18:33

could that mean that if i could find a hotspot just as easily as i can find a cell phone frequency?

for example - my Nintendo DS

#8 cooljerk_dv on 16 Sep 2005 - 18:44

I'm looking forward to a Wimax Solution, igamine using my laptop everywhere. But I hope the pricing can compete with landlines. If it is aroundf the $42.00 I pay for my 7MBit Shaw Extreme Connection, then I'll probably switch ISP's. It needs to be between 35-45 bucks for it to be widely adopted.

Still looking forward to it.

#9 Rockett15 on 16 Sep 2005 - 18:44

This will also mean that you could finally have a wireless stream tuner in your car. You can drive down the road and listen to Internet Radio or a station from another country!

#10 koppit on 16 Sep 2005 - 18:47

****in eh!!

#11 Colin-uk on 16 Sep 2005 - 18:57

/me moves to canada

#12 thenay on 16 Sep 2005 - 19:09

Thread about this story,
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=373031&st=0&#entry586535152

And this is great news

(3 replies) #13 AionXn_ on 16 Sep 2005 - 19:24

lol what the hell is "Inukshuk"..

good news though =)

#13.1 Another_Paul on 16 Sep 2005 - 19:25

I think it's eskimo or something.

#13.2 tch1005 on 16 Sep 2005 - 19:31

An Inukshuk is a Inuk word (Inuk being the singular of Inuit)
Inuk=Man
Shuk=Stone (assuming)
ANd is a human shaped mound of stones, used as markers to indicate that you are not the only person to have been here... Kinda like a reaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllly old school type of taging thing... but with rocks...

#13.3 Colin-uk on 16 Sep 2005 - 19:37

canada's going back to the stone age, wahay

#14 metalguy90 on 16 Sep 2005 - 19:39

go Canada!!

(2 replies) #15 dl0711 on 16 Sep 2005 - 19:54

QUOTE

Rogers executive remarked that "This agreement will keep Canada at the leading edge of next generation technologies."

Rogers wants Canada to be leading edge of next generation technologies thats a Bunch of Bull because if that was the case then rogers would be upgradeing there network that they already have up but will they ??? NO

#15.1 Echelon Left on 16 Sep 2005 - 22:59

Canada is, actualy, at the leading edge. It's just that Rogers tech support sucks, that's all.
From what I understand, SaskTel is in the process of upgrading their hardware to the ITU-T G.993.2 (VDSL2) standard, which will allow for 100Mbps xDSL lines and WiMAX capabilities.

#15.2 rm20010 on 16 Sep 2005 - 23:49

Rogers tech support sucks

The same can be said of Bell (Sympatico at least) unfortunately.

(1 reply) #16 ripgut on 16 Sep 2005 - 19:57

so i can drive from here in seatle up to the border and be a bandwidth bandit?

#16.1 sumeet on 16 Sep 2005 - 20:20

you sure can little buddy! As long as you pay $60 (guessing) a month for the service

#17 hotdog963al on 16 Sep 2005 - 20:25

Come to the UK!!!!

#18 Sn4k36 on 16 Sep 2005 - 20:52

This is one of the many reasons why i love being a canadian

(1 reply) #19 lylesback2 on 16 Sep 2005 - 21:58

awesome! i love being canadian too.. very good for laptops users!

and.. can't wireless broadband.. be hackable.. and allow millions of users free internet?

#19.1 Echelon Left on 16 Sep 2005 - 23:03

Candaian telcos aren't stupid. They will use 128-bit(or better) encription on their wireless subscription lines, as well as other robust security technologies. You may be able to wardrive the local soccer-mom's wireless router, but that's a whole other thing that trying to hack a major ISP's wireless network.

(1 reply) #20 Malbojia on 16 Sep 2005 - 22:15

Not just for laptops but Canadian folk live alot in rural areas hopefully this will help them out a wee bit. I live a hour and a half from Montreal up north it ends pretty close anywhere in the big circle.

But also towns of 25k in population will get another method to have high speed.

#20.1 Roves on 17 Sep 2005 - 02:01

this is something down under needs,seeing as alot of it is rural too.

#21 Allan® on 17 Sep 2005 - 00:34

Inukshuk

Work of art

Vancouver 2010 Olympic Version

#22 slimy on 17 Sep 2005 - 04:42

going to be sweet!

#23 zine team279 on 17 Sep 2005 - 07:56

W00t! Now Canadians will have this too! Adding onto our health care.....this must be the best dang country in the world!

Thats right....all move to Canada........ :p Just kidding, stay wherever you want. Canada to expensive for y'all.

And as for Rural traffic....I can agree totally, I live in northern Saskatchewan (brrrrrr) and lots of places still don't have internet. And when I saw lots....I mean LOTS! hehe, poor people.

#24 Xtreme $niper on 17 Sep 2005 - 14:46

I dont care if Rogers and Bell are monopolies. I love the *******s.

#25 PT_KiD on 20 Sep 2005 - 07:17

blame canada!

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