Bell recently announced that they will be expanding their fibre optic network to Saint-Honoré-de-Témiscouata, Quebec. With their advanced technology, Saint-Honoré-de-Témiscouata residents can enjoy lightning-fast download speeds, as well as features like Fibe TV. Bell’s plan is part of a larger $1.7 billion investment. This huge venture is aiming to provide rural Quebec with advanced technology like fibre internet and 5G access. With the addition of Bell’s fibre internet in Saint-Honoré-de-Témiscouata, Canadians should expect a more connected future that prioritizes advanced technology and rapid speeds.
Why Bring Fibre Internet to Saint-Honoré-de-Témiscouata?
Saint-Honoré-de-Témiscouata is located in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region of Quebec. As a small municipality, their 2011 census reported a population of 780 residents. Despite this, they host a number of yearly seasonal festivals and events to inspire a sense of community. The Parc du Mont-Citadel is where the whole municipality comes together, regardless of the season. This tourist attraction is a popular lodging spot for ski trips, family getaways and more.
Canadians from urban settings may feel a bit confused as to why Bell would invest so much money towards small municipalities like Saint-Honoré-de-Témiscouata. Do rural settings need access to high-speed internet, Fibe TV and 5G technology. In short, yes. The economic and personal effects of the COVID-19 pandemic warned Canadians of a grave importance. Without a solid internet connection, workers and students cannot properly work or learn from home. Bell (and other providers) believe that every Canadian has the right to adequately work from home in case of a devastating event, which explains such a large investment. To further express the importance of the arrival of fibre internet in Saint-Honoré-de-Témiscouata, we can compare their internet options to an urban setting like Montreal.
Comparison: Saint-Honoré-de-Témiscouata versus Montreal
To understand the difference in adequate internet availability between Montreal and Saint-Honoré-de-Témiscouata, we will use Planhub’s internet searching tool. In a matter of seconds, our website displays the best available internet plans to users based on their location and requirements. After inputting a postal code from downtown Montreal, the results displayed 51 plans at reasonable prices. In addition, Montrealers can pay for plans with download speeds as high as 500Mbps or even 1Gbps. On the other hand, when inputting a postal code from Saint-Honoré-de-Témiscouata, the results are far weaker. Instead of 51 plans at 50Mbps, only one plan is available. Further, the plan is far more expensive than most packages available to Montrealers. To make matters worse, this is the fastest available plan for Saint-Honoré-de-Témiscouata residents.
So, residents in this rural community have no choice but to pay more than they should for a decent download speed. Unfortunately, this could be insufficient for large families and people who need rapid internet to work from home. Thus, Bell’s investment is trying to prevent situations like this from happening. If every community in the country has access to fibre internet, they can continue to enjoy their lives without feeling the need to relocate to an urban setting. Although nobody wants another event to force us all indoors, at least Canadians will be prepared if it takes place.
Conclusion
Overall, the inclusion of Bell’s fibre internet in Saint-Honoré-de-Témiscouata is a great sign for Canadians. It proves that our government and large corporations believe in advanced technology, and view it as a necessity rather than a luxury. As telecom providers continue to provide modern infrastructure to rural communities, Canada will grow into a more connected and inclusive country.
