Xplornet says spectrum needs to be addressed by M-208
OTTAWA – Representatives from B.C.-based the RightMesh Project appeared before the Parliamentary Committee on Industry, Science and Technology in Ottawa on Tuesday, touting their product as having the potential to help put a push broadband much deeper into rural Canada.
RightMesh bills itself as a software solution that can be integrated into any application without the need for additional infrastructure or hardware, bringing last-mile connectivity to communities or areas with no internet access otherwise.
The company says Android phones form the infrastructure of its system, allowing connectivity to be achieved peer-to-peer via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct. RightMesh says its switching technology ensures the data integrity of its users, and when a client and hotspot node find each other, they form a new mesh for people to join and share, and the network subsequently grows from there.
According to the company, every mesh node has an Ethereum ID and account that provides a unique identity to users. RMESH tokens transfer from content providers and between users to reward behaviour and pay for goods and services, which executives believe will help the network to grow and coverage to expand.
“For the last several years, we’ve been working on the RightMesh technology,” CEO John Lyotier told the committee studying bill M-208 on rural digital infrastructure. “There are large parts of the world, including Canada, where connectivity is not sufficient. Our company’s focus is to help bridge the digital divide. We know the future of 5G technology is not going to be sufficient to address the needs of the population due to costs, structures, network infrastructure densities and other reasons.”
RightMesh Project CTO Dr. Jason Ernst (who is also a University of Guelph computer science professor) shared with the committee the work the company has been doing in Rigolet, Nunatsiavut, a town located at the entrance of Hamilton Inlet, on the North Coast of Labrador. Rigolet, an Inuit community with a population of 300 spread among 100 houses, is the southern-most Inuit community in the world, and was incorporated in 1977.
“There are no cell towers in Rigolet,” Ernst began. “When we first started going to the community the throughput of the network was approximately 1 Mbps, but has subsequently increased to the 2 to 4 Mbps range.”
Ernst told how Rigolet residents built an app to document climate change that’s taking place in the community by monitoring the environment and their own documented experiences, but the app never worked well because internet service is so limited there. The community invited RightMesh in to see what the company might be able to do to help improve speeds as well as general connectivity.
And while RightMesh’s work in Rigolet remains a work in progress, Ernst says officials in Nunavut as well as other Labrador-based communities are also interested in trying the RightMesh project to help improve connectivity for their residents.
The company is also looking to bring its product to international markets, including Colombia, India and Bangladesh to name a few.
Also appearing before the committee was Xplornet EVP and general counsel CJ Prudham. She said that, as Canada’s largest rural-focused internet provider, which connects 370,000 homes across the country, Xplornet has invested more than $1.5 billion in its facilities and network, expanding covering while simultaneously increasing speeds and data buckets for customers.
Prudham says later this year, the company will double customer download speeds to 50 Mbps, and will again double speeds to reach 100 Mbps next year, using fibre, microcells and fixed wireless technology to accomplish the feat.
“Otherwise, there is the risk of multiple, well-meaning agencies rushing to find projects and crowding out sustainable private investments.” – CJ Prudham, Xplornet
She said that while Motion 208 outlines a number of important points the government can do to incent further investment in rural digital infrastructure, she also cautioned that co-ordination and balance must be taken into consideration for future projects.
“Otherwise, there is the risk of multiple, well-meaning agencies rushing to find projects and crowding out sustainable private investments,” Prudham said, emphasizing the importance and availability of spectrum moving forward.
“While data consumption by Canadians has exploded in recent years, all significant spectrum allocations by the Government of Canada over the last five years have focused exclusively on mobile needs. Rural Canada needs access to spectrum in order to keep pace. Providing access to spectrum is regrettably absent in 208. We propose the committee consider an amendment to ensure this essential ingredient is included in the motion.”
Prudham highlighted the importance of the 3500 Mhz band, acknowledging a government decision on the matter is imminently due (and was announced Wednesday). She added it will be the single biggest decision in a decade impacting rural broadband service.
