Communications Infrastructure

Nova Scotia is a centre of sophisticated telecommunications infrastructure with a fully digital network in place. Aliant, one of Nova Scotia's leading telecommunications companies, completed a $2.6 million broadband network upgrade in Northern Nova Scotia in 2002. Pictou County-based businesses are guaranteed to stay at the leading edge of information technology.

Instant communication to anywhere in the world, via:

• Nova Scotia's Hibernia Atlantic is a state-of-the-art network offering direct trans-Atlantic connectivity from the US and Canada to Ireland and the UK. Cable landing stations are located in Halifax, Dublin, Boston and Liverpool.
• Nova Scotia has a fully-digital telecommunications system and a robust province-wide broadband network.
• Nova Scotia's two full-service telephone companies offer end-to-end redundant fibre networks.
• Urban Pictou County is well served by cable, satellite and wireless telecommunications infrastructure. Several service providers are available.
• Satellite and wireless Internet is currently available to service rural regions of Pictou County; however, the Broadband for Rural Nova Scotia initiative will deliver high-speed access to the Internet to 100 per cent of Nova Scotians. When the initiative is completed at the end of 2009, the entire province will have high-speed Internet access, making Nova Scotia one of the most connected jurisdictions in North America.
• Nova Scotia's Community Access Program is intended to make technology and the information highway available to all Nova Scotians, even in the most remote areas of the province. To date, over 118 CAP sites have been established province-wide, with 13 of these being in Pictou County. At present, Pictou County has the highest per-capita usage of CAP sites in the province. Pictou County intends to continue a strong push to ensure it has a large share of sites.
• Dial-up internet service is available throughout Pictou County by multiple service providers.

The Nova Scotia telecommunications network infrastructure includes:

• a fully digital telecommunications network
• a fibre-optic network with no single point of failure, running nearly 4,800 km providing extensive high quality access to high-speed data, voice, video and multimedia services
• a province-wide ATM broadband switching network with the broadest coverage in Atlantic Canada, designed for high-speed data and multimedia- provides faster and more reliable LAN and WAN connections
• full access for all businesses in province to MTT's dedicated business internet
• easy access to satellite communications, frame relay and ADSL systems
• full cellular service and wireless networks
• Canada's first province-wide emergency 911 service

A North America first was pioneered in Nova Scotia at MTT, using ADSL technology. In partnership with Novell and Paradyne, Mpowered was created as a revolutionary way to get the most from your home or office computer. This network allows access to a pay-per-use software library, Internet games, video and audio, as well as unlimited Internet access 250 times faster than a 28.8 kbps modem.

Telecommunications creating opportunity

Innovations in telecommunications also provide improved access to education. Distance education facilities allow students from more remote areas to take classes in Nova Scotian universities and colleges. Nova Scotia has an extensive network of videoconferencing facilities across the province, which can link you to almost any location in the world.

Nova Scotia has a thriving telecommunications industry, including more than 40 call centres employing more than 4,000. Large international players like Convergys, AT&T, Scotiabank, Sears and Phonettix Intelecom have chosen Nova Scotia. It is now one of the most effective call-centre locations in North America.

Communications Services Available in Pictou County*

* Service providers are continually expanding services and coverage, it is best to check with service providers directly to determine availability.

Phone

Aliant MTT provides local telephone and long distance service, satellite television, wireless service, and dial-up and high-speed internet access. EastLink is a Maritime-owned and operated communications company that provides cable, digital cable, high-speed internet access, local telephone service and long distance services. EastLink was one of the first Canadian cable companies to provide high-speed internet via cable. Both EastLink and Aliant allow their services to be bundled.

Internet

The Province of Nova Scotia is currently on track to become one of the most connected jurisdictions in North America by the end of 2009. The Broadband for Rural Nova Scotia initiative will deliver high-speed access to the Internet to 100 per cent of Nova Scotians. Seaside Communications won the contract to supply this service to unserviced areas in Cumberland & Pictou counties (Zone 2).

Currently, there are four providers of ‘broadband’ services in Pictou County. Aliant and Eastlink provide traditional high-speed internet via land lines to the five main towns, plus numerous communities in the rural areas. Both companies plan to expand their service areas. Aliant's M-powered high-speed service has speeds of up to 1.5 mbps downstream and 0.640 mbps upstream. EastLink's high-speed internet has speeds of 3-10 mbps downstream and 200kbps-2mbps upstream.

Wireless high-speed services are being provided in many rural areas by Seaside Communications or TNC Wireless, a Pictou County company. The fourth option is to get high-speed through satellite services offered by Aliant and Xplornet.