Well, its no wonder Aliant is bringing high speed internet to the entire Island, after all, high speed internet is their business.

Imagine for a second that Aliant did not make this investment, instead say the government gave $10 million to another company such as ISN Wireless.

The $10 million dollar investment into a company like ISN Wireless would definitely help them become a major player as an Island ISP, which would no doubt have them eventually move into bigger markets, like Charlottetown or Summerside. Thus, that would be an investment against Aliant which could end up hurting Aliant more then ever.

None the less, hats off to Aliant for NOT using government funds to build out their network.

Are you serious about the Aliant comment????? You must already have highspeed at home. Doing it from their own $? They got $12 million for a 5 year contract they didn't need. Check your data before you post, you look foolish.

Joe, The cold reality is that the government was renewing a contract they previously had signed.

There is a few ways you can look at that $12 million/5 year contract, they are all good. This is probably the closest one to what your thinking.

Government budgeted $10 million to expand internet to everyone. On top of that, the government contract was due which was obviously going to cost them more.

This two for one deal that saved tax payers money. The $12 million, is $2 million after you remove the $10 million budgeted for the expansion.

Lets use some inflated numbers and say Eastlink could have saved half the cost of the Aliant bill, tax payers would still be paying out $16 million dollars in total over these two projects.

Saving Island tax payers millions of dollars is hardly foolish.

The only thing I have to say about all this is...What happen to the money the government gave aliant in 1998 for highspeed across PEI???

Islanders should be looking into that first, before we all get screwed again!

Concerned Islander,

I think you are referring to 1997, March 26th to be exact, when $3.2 million dollars was given to Aliant.

According to the press release, that money was given to Aliant to build a fiber network from tip to tip. This doesn't mean everywhere on PEI would get internet service. It was basically connecting 1 string from one part of the Island to the other, not connecting every house on the Island together.

People have read that press release as stating that every Islander will be connected to that fiber, that's incorrect. In the press release there is no mention of that and if people took it that it was connecting every Islander to the internet they were very wrong.

Looking back, in 1997 we were still using dialup internet. The average was 28.8kbps, we were still using Internet Explorer 3.0. In January 1999, ISN was still charging $29.95 for 120 hours of dialup internet. The word internet wasn't commonly used till 1996! There was 19.5 million people in the world logging onto the internet. It wasn't until 2000 that we had the option to use Eastlink HSI.

So really, $3.2 million dollars back in 1997 wouldn't be much money when it comes to purchasing new technology for mass use like this.

What concerns me is what is considered HIGH SPEED internet? How many KB Upload and Download? Is their a maximum download caps in MB or GB before a surcharges apply? I would like to know what the PEI Government considers high speed and a fair price for high speed? With various wireless options now available for most parts of PEI from Route2, ISN Wireless, Sympatico unplugged, Rogers Wireless, EVDO, Satellite, Eastlink Cable, Aliant DSL, etc.... most of them with their benefits and downfalls. I would expect that a benchmark for service, speed, bandwidth usage and price be set.

Living in the country I would like to be able to get the equivalent service and price that Charlottetown or Summerside residents have available to them. Currently being serviced by a wireless company - where speed & bandwidth is less than DSL but at the same price. Hopefully, This is not what the PEI Government considers as High Speed service. (200-300 kbs Up, 60-128 kbs down).

Dan: You bring up some really good points. What does high speed internet consist of? However I don't think they will impose limitations on just the people in the country who presently don't have access to high speed internet.

Is it fair to limit people in the country just because they live in the country? This might be a bad example now but kinda like how country cable (if it still exist) has a lot less channels then the normal cable.

I know years ago, Aliant had the following policy. Before they'd release a faster service to one area, they'd make sure everyone in the maritimes (within their scope) was eligible. I don't know if this exist today but recall being told that from Aliant before.

i don't mean to be picky but i have bell unplugged with 3000kbps DL and 500kbps UP and even 40-50 ping but since it's wireless from a tower and bandwidth sucks, i have trouble keeping up with my friends over xbox live and other online gaming services :( but it's okay for now, i just know how good DSL is and im anxious :P

I am just wondering if it will be as good as DSL in urban areas, and i heard about a fiber optic line tip-to-tip, that would be sweet since it's as fast as the speed of light (literally) so that means faster and higher bandwidth for gaming and more than one device on at the same time.

I have spoken with the person in the PEI government that is involved directly with this project (I can't recall his name ATM) and he assured me that the "high-speed internet" would be the same speed that is available everywhere else through Aliant. So at the very least connections of 52 MBPS.

ok kool thats awesome, the speed of the highspeed unplugged is 10mbps so i can only amagine :P , thanks.

I've been on the Aliant list for HS since 2002. I am in Cavendish where we have anituated dial up, an accelerator that doesnt do anything, yet they charge for, when there is Aliant HS all around me, with the exception of a small area on Route 6 that doesnt receive, yet the Municipality and Federal Parks Department do, in addition to lots of other businesses. There are a few businesses on Route 6 who cant get this service from Aliant. A sarcastic comment was made to me that the small gap in Cavendish of a few thousand feet that wasnt connected to HS was that the Aliant techs went to lunch one day, and forgot where they stopped, so it was never finished. Aliant reps not only in PEI but Moncton give the run around why it's not there, and call this area one of the "too rural areas yet to be serviced". Hell, Cavendish is one of THE major tourist destinations on the Island, that in fact has HS except a few thousand feet of Route 6!

Aliant have received funding years ago as other comments testify, so why haven't they done what they were paid for? Shame on the PEI government for even choosing Aliant again and rewarding another big business and CEO's who profit with huge dividends and who cares nothing about the customers they now serve. Geesh.

@Kathy

The real reason is that you'd be at the end of two lines on both side of you.

Prior to this annoucement, I would probably tell you Aliant is a business and interested in making a profit. That is their main concern so if expanding to provide you with service isn't profitable, they won't do it.

If the accelerator does nothing, then remove it and stop wasting your money. A lot of companies will also try and sell you something you can download for free, i.e. see my recent post on my updates to my Blackberry where Telus tries to sell me a product that you can download for free.

And yes, Aliant did receive previous funding for this but the funding they received wasn't enough. $3.2 million for DSL equipment in 2002 was nothing.

You are right John re the two lines, although, NO ONE at Aliant would tell me that when I asked if that was in fact the case. There are quite a few year round homes AND major tourist business in this small area who are affected as well, not just me, and they all would be online with Aliant, as most have had to use the alternate provider, at a much higher cost. It's interesting though, the line in this area IS run for long distances where there is no usage at all, to accomodate three or four homes at the other end. We all know PEI is not that big, from tip to tip, and to literally stop a few thousand feet? What's with that? Oh well.

Most people at Aliant wouldn't know where you are on the lines anyway. You basically need to run a test to check, which I don't think Aliant level 1 or level 2 reps would have access too. I find Aliant's always been behind with new technology.

While it may end prior to reaching your house and may only be a few thousand feet, the thing is a few thousand feet make a huge difference.

It is possible to install DSL into your home, no questions asked there. That's not the problem, the problem is getting your service to be reliable. When your a few hundred feet further away then the DSL service is able to operate then it will affect your service and you'll notice it by having intermediate connectivity issues or your connection might always be down.

The last thing Aliant wants to do is install a DSL line into your home and have to send out technicians after technicians to try and fix your problem as this will end up costing them more then giving you service is worth, meaning if a tech has to spend 3-4 hours a month working on your service then it's not worth it for them to sell you a service worth $60.

Not to mention the hit to their reputation since you'd probably be badmouthing (most people complain when their internet goes down) them saying their service sucks because it is down all the time. But I don't think Aliant cares much about this...yet.

Hope this helps answer some of your questions!

I don't even have to badmouth Aliant...their reputation precedes themselves. You can be assured if Eastlink were a competitor in outlying areas, they would have the marketshare, not Aliant. Not because Eastlink is even better, but they are perhaps the lesser of the two evils so to speak.

I got a piece of mind anyway. We had used Aliant cell phones for 12 years in our business, with eight cell phones. It was worth it to buy out my Aliant contracts and switch to TELUS. The customer service these past six months has been second to none compared to Aliant, with direct access to a human for business purposes. No Emily there. Interesting as well, I told about seven people that I had changed our cell provider, and during discussions after the fact, resulted in termination of other contracts, which evolved to over a hundred business people changing their plans (a coincidence perhaps, or just a long time coming I am sure) and the reward I got? Freebies from TELUS for referrals. Gotta love free enterprise!

I don't know about Aliant getting everyone on the Island real soon. Me ol pappy is still waiting 5/7/09.
As for speeds, DSL from Aliant= up to 2 mbps or ultra highspeed up to 5 mbps.
Someone had said 52MBps which would make me uncontrollably giddy!!!!
It is possible for pure fiber optics to get that, but unless the island was a test location, they aren't going to be getting anywhere near that (not only that, it would only be of use in a pure FO internet).
Ontario, Alberta, Quebec, BC etc are all using somewhere between 1,5 & 10 mbps (DSL) slightly faster with cable but then again less stable speeds.
1 MBps=8mbps or 1.5mbps(normal internet)=0.1875MBps; so you aren't even getting 1 MBps...but that is okay Gamer, because neither are most of your North American friends. Some may be getting 5mbps (ultra high speed), but that still isn't at 1MBps (note the capital MB).
If someone is using Cable internet, the fastest I've ever heard of using that is 50mbps BUT, you have to make sure everyone else has their internet turned off to get it! hehe, the more people on the internet in your area, uses up your bandwidth. So it is very rare to get insane speeds anywhere like that...and Eastlink (our local Cable provider, only boasts up to 15mbps.
DSL is far more stable. A steady 1.5 mbps (or better 5mbps) is much better than the typical cable up to 15mbps speeds. Because cable sometimes your getting under 1mbps and other times up to 2mbps (during peak hours), and only rarely (during peak hours) have i seen 5-8mbps; i've personally never got the full 10mbps that was offered from my former cable connection.
Aliant highspeed unplugged (3mbps wireless) isn't available everywhere, neither is ultra-high speed. MOST places only get the basic (for stability purposes).
I was living a 5 minute WALK from the central office and they had to downgrade my Ultra highspeed to regular highspeed...bad lines that they wouldn't replace!

So for speeds of 20+mbps you need to be a business and have a good income to pull that off. A dedicated line can offer as much as 100mbps and even more. You can however get 10mbps DSL from aliant for about 115.00/month plus taxes...not a paltry sum...too much for most of us really to spend on an internet connection. Personally, If I were rich...i'd get an ATM @ 155mbps and offset the cost by obtaining subscribers. (drools)

As for Aliant being a bad company....COMPLETELY! A bunch of ruthless crooks! Forget the problems with linkdeath; WATCH your BILLS. They are creative in the accounting department, especially when you change locations. It takes a LOT of buggering about to get these pinheads to admit to their errors.

Hope you all get your highspeed soon!
Peace

I just want to say I recently signed up with ISN in PEI for internet service. I live seasonally in Cavendish, and waiting for Aliant/BELL or whatever they are going by these days, for faster internet in this rural area is not coming any time soon. I recently spoke with someone out of Moncton, who is working with the o called transition of internet to rural areas in PEI, and off the cuff, their comments are it is NOT coming any time soon to all rural areas on this small island. Sure, they will do some, but if anyone is putting off using other internet providers in the hope it is coming tomorrow, don't do it. There are other options, and the service I have received from ISN so far is great, it is fast, and the customer service is second to none, and it is the only alternative right now for rural areas if faster net is what you really want. Islanders should be supporting the smaller provider, if the service is available in your area. It isnt that much more expensive in the long run, and the speed is so much better than the antiquated dial up and the additional charges Aliant/Bell charge for accellerator program which does nothing.


Customer service is what people should put first, and not the hierarchy of corporate business who have

Well John, Another week has come and gone and still no announcement from Aliant. As I told you we were promised a week ago by Mr. Lambe that we would receive some news by the end of this week (Dec 11,2009)So much for his word. What are you hearing? Maybe if we were closer to the horse's mouth instead of the hind quarters we could get more accurate information. Brett

Well, surprise! Another delay by our subsidized friends of the gov eh? Since it has been over a week now and you didn't bother to reply to my last comment on broken promises, I'll asume you are as much in the dark as the rest of us (outside that secert circle). I don't expect a reply to this rant either, but it made me feel a little better just to vent.

I'm relatively "new" on the Aliant high speed waiting list (5 years) but was very hopeful when the Aliant-PEI gov't contract was announced, bringing high speed to ALL islanders. The comments above, dating back to 12/08 are pretty discouraging. However a contract is a binding agreement. Has anyone actually seen the original contract or CAN it even be seen? As much as many people seem to dislike Aliant..they are still a public company obliged to maintain some pretense towards customer service.
We must keep up a public pressure for Aliant to fulfill this contractual commitment. No Government or Corporation wants to look sleazy (for long) in the public eye. This is the perfect time for those affected to SQUEAK a little louder

So is it true that anyone who doesn't have highspeed now is to just go with the turbo stick cuz i've tried that and my dial up is faster.lol plus that is way more expensive I'm about 2 minutes from highspeed and I'm only 6 minutes from the middle of montague I'm located in the "head of montague area" why can't they give me highspeed...

all i can say is get after them that is what im am doing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, I guess all i can say is that im a little pissed off knowing that a lot of people on this Island are still not able to receive high-speed. This is the third time im moving and yet all 3 of these places have NO high speed avilable. Im sick of not having internet. They dont know that some people try to run a business online. Some people have there heads up there @$%

We are here on the west side of Summerside and no sign of high speed yet from Aliant. I did write both the government and aliant to see what the response would be and they each referred me to the other, with carbon copies of their emails to all the higher-ups. I think that is called CYA and PTB at the same time! When do we see the end of the corporate dodging and the beginning of the high speed? I was told by the end of June 2010 but then I was also told by the end of 2009 in June of 2009 and that didn't happen so.......

Maybe this is the time to buy stock in the company. That entitles you to go to the shareholders meeting and ask pertinent questions!

For everyone's information.... (I don't give up easily)

Copy of email sent today to

peter.murchland@bellaliant.ca
gatownsend@gov.pe.ca

I read with interest the press release dated December 15, 2009 in
which Bruce Howatt says that he is pleased that (Aliant) will be able
to offer high speed service across the island to all customers. Um
---- we live at 146 McNeill Mills Road (Route 134), just off Route 2
and to date we have no high speed service -- and that IS an Island
address just for your information. So -- when IS it that we will be
offered this new high speed service. At this rate, I predict that
high speed via telephone lines will be redundant before Aliant
actually fulfills their undertaking to service the entire island. Or
-- is ALL no longer defined as 100% in newspeak?

Looking forward to your response, giving us a date when we can expect
to sit down at the computer and find that we are connected via high
speed!!!

This is Feb 8 and to date, there has not been a reply to my email above by either government or aliant spokesperson. Not even an automatic response from their computer. The government could have supplied everyone not served with a satellite connection by this time and probably for no more cost than already incurred. There's nothing like a free enterprise/government partnership, is there?

Aliant Bell Rogers Telus they may have High speed available to the last mile, but never forget between their towers there is only 1 MB speed, so till you finally make it to the main back bone, your speed is down to 100k. Just double than a modem. The ideots do suck, they ask for government assistance and do not deliver, they make Billions every Year, they pay dividends, but never anything back to their clients....

I have aliant highspeed in O'Leary about 100 feet (yes feet) from the tower or the DSLAM for those technically inclined that is the big box that distributed the Internet over phone line and the further you are from it your speed reduces exponentially I am getting redicuously slow speed and to be that close to the tower is scandulous and everytime u call they do a so called test on the line and say everything is fine Yea everything is fine allright all that proves is there is a connection between there office and my line. And on top of that the price is over 40 a month and rising every year. Gotta love pei and aliant err I mean bell aliant ever since they merged will bell there a buch of corporate a$$holes. Gotta love paying for a service that doesn't deliver what it promises.take it from me people your waiting for a service that isn't Going to be much better than what you have now.