The provincial Office of Economic Development is moving aggressively toward fulfilling Premier Rodney MacDonald’s commitment to have 100% broadband Internet coverage in Nova Scotia by 2009.

Innovacorp President and CEO Dan MacDonald, who delivered a community briefing on the provincial government’s plans at the Old Orchard Inn in Greenwich Thursday, April 12, said broadband has become critical infrastructure from a provincial perspective. Although 85% of Nova Scotians have access to broadband, there are at least 143,000 people who fit the government’s definition of unserved.

He said the rural dilemma is there’s no critical mass for established service providers to have a solid business case to roll out broadband. Satellite service is available, but it can be affected negatively by atmospheric conditions or weather. “The government is trying to correct the rural dilemma,” MacDonald said, pointing out that information technology (IT) in general is a key building block to prosperity, as it impacts every sector of the economy.

In terms of defining “unserved,” the province isn’t talking about communities anymore. They now know right down to civic addresses where broadband service is available and where it isn’t. That detail is needed as they begin to engage service providers so they’re clear on the opportunity available...

See the full story at The Nova Scotia Business Journal