thinking differently to bridge broadband gaps in rural areas · thinking differently: learning...
TRANSCRIPT
Thinking differently: learning & bridging broadband gaps in
rural areas
Bill Ashton, PhD Director, Rural Development Institute Brandon University Brandon, Manitoba
Slide 2 Slide 2
Overview
Objectives • Clarify rural
broadband divide (in Manitoba)
• Challenge ourselves to think about advantages of rural broadband
Presentation • Broadband terms • Rural context -
digital divide • Rural digital
dividers • Rural challenge
Slide 3
Quote
Insanity is when you keep doing the same things and expecting different results. The future is unevenly distributed. Parts of our future already exist.
Slide 4
Terms
• Broadband: technology that transfers data across the internet at high speeds, so you can send data (upstream) and receive data (downstream). It’s ‘on’ all the time.
Slide 5
Terms
Broadband technology
Max Speed
Quality MB costs/month
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)
2-10 Mbps
Low quality with older phone lines and long distances to users
$20-40+ bundled w. Cell, WWW, phone, HD
Cable (coaxial) 2-10 Mbps
High quality, speeds reduce with more users & heavy users, no powerline option
$20-40+ bundled w. Cell, WWW, phone, HD
Wireless (mobile, fixed, microwave)
2-10 Mbps
High quality, low costs, good over hilly terrain
$50+, $500 install 15-20 km from tower
Satellite 2-10 Mbps
Delayed, poor for video, good for remote areas
$150 + install fee
Fibre optics (MB Hydro dark fibre)
50+ Mbps
Very high quality, expensive Telcos + independents
TV (Analog, ‘white space’)
(Horrigan, 2008)
Slide 6 Slide 6
Rural Context
• 463 rural centres & RMs • 420 Connected – NetSet, et al • 45 un or under-served • (17 below 1.5 Mbps)
Types of rural • Urban centred rural • Ag rural • North & remote
Slide 7
Rural Context
http://www.comparecellular.com/coverage-maps/
Slide 8
Rural Context
Basic coverage
Slide 9
Rural Context
Source: Bell
3G
Slide 10
Rural Context
Source: Bell
4G 21 Mbps (future extension)
Slide 11
Rural Context
Source: Bell
4G 42 Mbps
Slide 12 Slide 12
Rural Context
Digital divide: Lost opportunity cost
• Limited access outside larger urban centres
• Dial-up is slow, unable to handle heavy-users
• Negative impact on attracting new businesses
• Limits digital skills and knowledge
My story • 1979 UofCalgary – grad • 1980 GIS – data means
layers of information • 1990s – luggable, bag
cells, emails, WWW • 2000s – yahoo, security • 2010s - iPad, Google,
Youtube, Twitter …
Connectivity – urban/rural digital divide
Slide 13 Slide 13
Digital Dividend
Source: S. Andrews CEO
Innovative rural solution 1999 Insurance brokerage firm, 7
rural offices, 15 offices today 1999 R&D wireless equipment,
corporate solution 2000 Commercialized the Network 2001 Connected Moosomin, Carlyle
and Fort La Bosse school Div. 2002 Added 8 schools, 5 towns, 2
institutions 2009 started 2nd generation
technology, 160km fibre, ongoing
2011 connected all Fort La Bosse Schools with Gigabit Fiber
2012 Added 1000 clients
Slide 14 Slide 14
Digital Dividend
• 129 centres, 70% Aboriginal comm. • 85,168 pop, 7% MB pop • Aboriginal identity 72% vs 16% MB • Avg Age 25 vs 38 yrs MB • Seniors 18% vs 32% MB (50+) • Avg Income $13k/yr vs $24k MB • % Income: gov 30% vs 13% MB • 51% no high school vs 26% MB Source: StatCda 2006
Northern MB – Selected Profile
Slide 15 Slide 15
Digital Dividend
Broadband impacts Churchill, MB (2005), (12 months)
Revenue impacts + $769,000 online orders (7 users) + $ 32,000 reduced printing (2 users)
Cost impacts - Higher monthly charges - $32,400 high-speed MTS line (4 users)
Employment impacts + 2.7 FTE ($102k/yr) + 20-30 FTE potential 7 users
Slide 16
Digital Dividend
Yellowknife NT
Churchill, MB
Arctic Trading Company Churchill, MB
Innovative rural solution
Slide 17 Slide 17
Digital Dividend
• Technologies exist for rural broadband
• Strategic alliances critical between provider and anchors and subscribers
• Continued research to service niche rural markets
• Skills development to increase uses
• Effective use takes times (yrs)
Innovative rural solution
Slide 18 Slide 18
Digital Dividend
Challenges • Gateway (interprov’al) costly, regulations • Some e-govt services technology needs updating • Thinking about North – access to hi-speed critical • Public policy + action (learning curve) • Longer time frame (adoption to saturation)
Slide 19 Slide 19
Digital Dividend
Rural digital dividends • Business: retention, expansion • Entrepreneurs – start-ups innovations,
patents, exports • Health & social care: access to more
services, more specialists, telemedicine, earlier detection/prevention, more staff training
• Protective services: faster responses, file sharing, access to specialists, training
• E-govt: engagement, permits • Social cohesion: reduced citizen time,
cost, and family disruption; increased contacts
Rural digital dividends Consumers + Producers Prosumers
1% increase in broadband penetration rate (USA) equals an economic increase of 0.2 to 0.3%/year (Atkinson 2009)
Connectivity – from divide to digital dividend
Slide 20 Slide 20
Rural Challenge
Existing model • 20 yrs in the making • Infrastructure: govt and
business investors, R&D, deployment
• Skills development • Uses: XXXXXX agv
users, number of devices,
New thinking for rural communities • Infrastructure: public
anchor – schools, e-health, govt services, & provider(s)
• Skills development: businesses, citizens, youth
• Uses: grow over time, strategic impact approach with social marketing
• Timeline: Start now
What’s needed
Slide 21 Slide 21
Rural Challenge
Integrated approach - ROI Right people, right resources, right
outcomes • Govt service savings and prevention • Infrastructure provider with
precautions (monopoly) • Local leaders & enabling govt
agencies (policy, actions) • Research, learn, transfer
Challenge ourselves: New thinking
Slide 22
Rural Challenge
Evidence base
Base line, rural success, bench mark
Business case, partnerships,
2-5 communities
Action steps & investments
Communities connected &
dividends
Learn & transfer
Challenge ourselves: New approach
Slide 23
Thank You
William (Bill) Ashton, Director Rural Development Institute
Brandon University Ph: 204-571-8513