Overview
In 2004, W3 Connex was awarded the initial project based on a formal RFP process administered by the Township under the BRAND (Broadband for Rural and Northern Development) funding program.
In the spring of 2005, W3 and our technology partner, mmwave Technologies Inc., finalized a detailed engineering assessment of the existing network infrastructure owned by the Township as well as the requirements for the new wireless network designed to provide wireless high-speed broadband service to the unserved communities across South Dundas. Prior to the commencement of the new wireless network build, W3 and the Township had to reach agreement on the purchase of the existing network assets as they are integral to the new network design. In addition, approval had to be obtained from Industry Canada, the Federal Ministry responsible for administering the BRAND program.
Over the summer months, after lengthy round of negotiations, the purchase of the existing network assets from the Township were concluded with the formal approval from Council on October 11, 2005. On January 31, 2006, W3 completed the final purchase of Township network assets and announced that we had concurrently completed the build of our wireless network components and were now able to provide Residence and Businesses with high-speed broadband and internet services throughout the entire Township of South Dundas.
The following information summarizes these activities:
Phase 1
In Phase 1, W3 installed new Fibre Optics Media Converters
and Switches to improve the quality of service for all customers
served by the fibre optics network in Morrisburg and Iroquois.
This new equipment also enhances the ability to manage the
network and trouble shoot using the latest network management
system. In addition, W3 has completed the installation of
new network Points of Presence in specially designed outdoor
cabinets at the Water Towers in both Morrisburg and Iroquois.
We then completed the installation of point to point microwave
radios that interconnect the two fibre optic networks with
our Internet Gateway located in our Central office in Morrisburg.
In two maps below are graphic representations of the Fibre
Optic Networks serving Morrisburg and Iroquois.
Fibre Optic Network diagram in Morrisburg Ontario
Fibre Optic Network diagram in Iroquois Ontario
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Phase 2
In Phase 2, W3 has built new telecommunications towers
at the Township offices in Williamsburg and at the Matilda
Township Community Centre in Dixons Corners. We then installed
point to point microwave radios to connect the Morrisburg
Water Tower to the new Williamsburg Township Municipal tower
and from the Iroquois Water Tower to the Matilda Community
Centre. Both of these new towers can now provide local businesses
and residences with wireless high-speed broadband and internet
service. In addition as part of Phase 2, W3 identified that
2 Optimization sites were required to ensure that potential
customers on the eastern side of the Township could be provided
with service as part of this initial phase. To accomplish
this, two additional Network Services Areas (NSA) were planned
and implemented with the construction of new towers and local
wireless transmitters located at the Dunbar Recreation Centre
and the Riverside Heights Recreation Centres.
On January 31, 2006, W3 announced that it is now implementing service to
all County government locations as well as to a number of
new residential and business customers who want to be hooked
up as soon as the system went live. Diagram #3 below provides
a graphical representation of the area that is covered. The
reader should be aware that although our maps may show that
coverage is possible, a wireless radio actually requires a
direct "line of sight” between the W3 transceiver,
located on one of four tower locations shown in the diagram
below, and the end-user's customer premise equipment antenna.
Line of sight means that there must be a clear unobstructed
path between the transmitting and receiving antennas for the
radio signal, which otherwise could be blocked by anything
in its path, including foliage. With the radios that we are
deploying, the signal is capable of penetrating some foliage.
Therefore we always ask potential customers “can you
see our tower from your house or business?” Sometimes
a need for extra height is required, so an old TV antenna
can often be used.
Phase 2 was completed on January 16, 2006.
Phase 2 Wireless Coverage
Map
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Phase 3
The objective in Phase 3 is to provide as close to
total coverage as is technically and financially feasible
so that residences and businesses throughout the Township
can be connected to the W3 high-speed Internet network.
The Phase 3 Wireless Coverage Map below provides a graphical representation
of two new Network Services Areas (NSA’s) with wireless
transmitters to be installed on the Water Towers located in
both Morrisburg and Iroquois.
This phase will be completed by the end of February
2006.
Phase 3 Wireless Coverage Map
Phase 4
Over the longer term it is expected that the number
of end user customers will be constantly growing, as will
our Customers' use of the Internet. To accommodate this growth,
the W3 network is easily scalable to facilitate the installation
of additional Network Access Points (NAPs) to increase network
capacity.
This phase is currently in progress and will be ongoing.
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