Canada’s Connectivity Strategy

Canada’s Connectivity Strategy, titled ‘High-Speed Access for All,’ aims to address the significant digital divide between urban and rural areas. The strategy is a comprehensive plan developed by the Government of Canada to ensure that every Canadian, regardless of location, has access to reliable and affordable high-speed internet and mobile connectivity. This initiative is critical for personal and professional communications, economic growth, education, healthcare, and public safety.

Background and Necessity

Access to high-speed internet is increasingly recognised as a necessity rather than a luxury. Rural Canadians often experience slower and less reliable internet access compared to their urban counterparts, hindering their ability to participate fully in the modern economy and society. The strategy acknowledges this gap and commits to bridging it through substantial investments and collaborative efforts.

Strategic Goals

The strategy sets ambitious targets for universal high-speed connectivity, aiming to provide download speeds of at least 50 Mbps and upload speeds of 10 Mbps to 90% of Canadians by 2021, 95% by 2026, and 100% by 2030. These goals reflect the growing demand for faster internet to support cloud-based applications, online learning, telehealth, and high-definition streaming, among other uses.

Key Pillars

1. High-Speed Access for All: This pillar focuses on achieving the universal 50/10 Mbps speed targets and improving mobile wireless services. It includes tailored solutions to meet the diverse needs of different communities, including schools, hospitals, and businesses, using a variety of technologies suitable for local contexts.
2. Investing for Impact: The strategy outlines significant financial commitments, including a $1.7 billion investment in broadband infrastructure through the Universal Broadband Fund and other programs. These investments are aimed at the hardest-to-reach areas, leveraging public-private partnerships to maximise impact.
3. Partnering for Progress: Recognising that connectivity challenges vary across regions, this pillar emphasises collaboration with provincial, territorial, municipal, and Indigenous partners. It seeks to streamline administrative processes, improve data sharing, and coordinate efforts to ensure efficient and effective implementation.

Implementation and Future Outlook

The strategy highlights the importance of scalability, ensuring that current investments can support future increases in internet speed requirements. It also emphasises the need for network resiliency, especially in remote and northern communities, to maintain consistent and reliable service.