Bringing high-speed Internet to Canadian rural communities has been a hot topic over the past few years. In 2016, the CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission) estimated 18 per cent of Canadian households did not have access to basic broadband speeds.[i] Declared as an "essential service", the CRTC along with the federal government's "Connect to Innovate" program collectively invested over $1 billion to help bring better Internet access to remote areas.[ii] With funding now being distributed, many of these communities are wondering how to get started – that's where Graybar Canada can help.

As a long-standing distributor of quality electrical and communication/data products, Graybar Canada has the knowledge to help businesses and communities upgrade their Internet services. With over 20 years of industry experience, Shawn Foote, national market manager at Graybar Canada, has assisted countless customers with the right products and network solutions. "Where Graybar Canada can help is on the education side," says Shawn. "Once the communities and municipalities receive funding it's time to think about the design process - what's needed for electrical and infrastructure. We can talk to them about the type of network they need to meet their requirements."

When faced with upgrading Internet services, some of the questions Shawn recommends asking are:

• What do you want your end-user to be able to do?
• Depending on the geography, does wireless or a landline make sense?
• Do you have existing infrastructure?
• Who are you thinking about partnering with for installation and products?

This is where Graybar Canada can provide options depending on your network goals and budget. "We work with our vendors to select the right networking products."

With 30 branch locations across Canada, Graybar Canada can provide products and resources from start to finish. "Along with educating our customers, we're also able to help project manage and stock inventory in our warehouses," says Shawn. "If you can only buy a portion of the material we can stock the remainder at a local branch."

By 2021, it's expected that 300 rural and remote communities across Canada will have access to high-speed broadband.[iii] If you're a community or business looking to make Internet upgrades but facing a crossroads, reach out to Graybar Canada today. Shawn Foote and his team of specialists can help kick-start your project with the right networking products and solutions to meet your needs.

Contact us today: [email protected]

[i] https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/crtc-internet-essential-service-1.3906664

[ii] https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/119.nsf/eng/home

[iii] https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/broadband-internet-access-rural-1.3898358