Toronto's new waterfront neighbourhoods will feature cutting-edge ultra-high speed broadband network

TORONTO, June 7, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Toronto's new waterfront communities will be wired with the latest in smart technology infrastructure that will make them among the most connected in the world.

Waterfront Toronto is partnering with the pioneering telecommunications firm Beanfield Metroconnect to create Canada's first open-access ultra-high speed broadband community network. Following a competitive selection process, Waterfront Toronto chose the Toronto-based firm to build and operate an advanced fibre-optic broadband network throughout the new waterfront communities.

The open-access ultra-broadband infrastructure will transform the neighbourhoods into intelligent communities that revolutionize how residents receive telecommunications services, promote economic growth and development, and enable innovation.

"Broadband has become essential public infrastructure for 21st century communities, and the need for faster connections delivered over more robust networks has been intensifying since the dawn of the Internet age," said John Campbell, President and CEO of Waterfront Toronto. "This state-of-the-art network will help us establish a new hub of innovation and stimulate enduring economic growth to help Toronto remain competitive with other world-leading cities, such as Seoul, Stockholm, and Tokyo where similar broadband infrastructures exist or are now being built."

Every home and business in the new communities will be wired with fibre and provided with affordable and unlimited access to internet speeds up to 500 times faster than typical North American residential networks. The network will also provide full community-wide Wi-Fi service. The ultra-high speed network will deliver internet connections starting at 100 megabits per second for residential customers and up to 10 gigabits per second for commercial customers - all at an extraordinarily competitive cost. At present, broadband of this calibre is not available for residential users in Toronto, and commercial access is significantly less affordable in Toronto than in other leading world cities.

"We are a Toronto company, and we are excited to be working with Waterfront Toronto to build on our waterfront what will be one of the world's leading community networks," said Dan Armstrong, Founding Partner, President and CEO of Beanfield Metroconnect. "As the Internet continues to develop and revolutionize the way people live, work, play and learn, the tremendous capacity of the network will ensure that everyone on the waterfront is equipped to both use and potentially create the web-based technologies and applications of the future."

Waterfront residents and businesses will have the highest performance internet services in Canada and guaranteed "among the best in the world" network services for more than a decade. Beanfield Metroconnect is required to ensure that the network is on par with that of the seven top global intelligent communities for 10 years beyond when the last building is built.

"The network is being built without taxpayer dollars," said Campbell. "Waterfront Toronto has facilitated an arrangement where our private sector development partners will initially provide the upfront capital and Beanfield Metroconnect will also invest in building the network."

As part of their monthly condo fees, residents will pay $60 for unlimited 100 megabit per second internet service, neighbourhood-wide Wi-Fi, and access to a unique community portal service, which will be developed to reflect local needs and interests.

The network will be "open-access" and residents and businesses will also be able to choose from a wide variety of content and service providers for internet, high-definition and internet protocol television, telephone, safety and security systems and more.

"This open, robust community-wide infrastructure will make the waterfront a living laboratory that encourages and supports innovation," said Campbell. "The network we are building will enable the development of smart buildings, smart healthcare and smart education. Plus it can support new applications that promote better public safety and traffic management."

Beanfield Metroconnect brings significant local knowledge and expertise to the project. The pioneering company has built and operates a large fibre-optic network in downtown Toronto that provides service to more than 200 commercial buildings. It was also instrumental in helping to build the thriving technology and media hub in Toronto's Liberty Village.

Waterfront Toronto has made major strides in revitalizing Toronto's waterfront. In addition to building and improving 17 parks and public spaces, it has finalized development agreements with Great Gulf Group of Companies, Urban Capital and Hines for private sector projects on the waterfront, as well as with George Brown College for the development of their new state-of-the-art campus.

The Governments of Canada and Ontario and the City of Toronto created Waterfront Toronto to oversee and lead the renewal of Toronto's waterfront. Public accessibility, design excellence, sustainable development, economic development and fiscal sustainability are the key drivers of waterfront revitalization.