Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Valley Community Fibre Network?
What are some examples of potential economic
development?
What are some examples of potential educational and
research opportunities?
What expertise is available over networks?
Will the network emphasize scientific uses?
What other services might use this network?
What are some examples of potential community
connections?
What part will the telecommunications carriers
play in this network?
Who is responsible for this network?
Do you have additional network customers?
Q - What is the Valley Community
Fibre Network?
A - The planned VCFN is a community-owned and operated 186 km
stretch of 72 strand fibre optic network that follows Highway
One, connecting Halifax with Middleton and multiple partners
along the route.
Q - What are some examples of
potential economic development?
A - Rural areas provide a different quality of life. However,
businesses choosing to locate here still need effective and
economical access to services. This network could enable
carriers to offer specialized network interconnection services
to businesses that need to connect multiple branches more
economically.
Q - What are some examples of
potential educational and research opportunities?
A - The VCFN will enable high speed interconnection of the
Middleton, Kentville and Halifax Nova Scotia Community College
campuses. This type of network allows the campuses to share data
and services more economically. This network will provide the
path for increased shared data and access to specialized
equipment. For example, researchers are currently operating
remote microscopes, telescopes, high speed computers and medical
equipment using this type of network.
Q - What expertise is available
over networks?
A - In spring 2005, schools in Bridgetown and Weymouth used
videoconferencing via the FundyWeb Broadband Network to
participate in music lessons and Biology and Chemistry labs
offered from the Acadia University campus. The VCFN will open up
opportunities for additional rural schools to be connected so
they can stay in their school, but “meet” with experts from
across the globe. Local businesses could send samples to
colleges and universities with specialized microscopes so they
could examine the samples from a distance, rather than driving
to the campus.
Q - Will the network emphasize
scientific uses?
A - The use of the networks is only limited by the vision of its
participants. At Acadia University a student continues to take
music lessons from a teacher at the Royal Conservatory of Music
in Toronto using pianos connected over the network. Playing the
piano in one location actually causes the piano in other
locations to play with keys and pedals moving.
Q - What other services might use this network?
A - In some places, the health community has been experimenting
with using high speed networks to transfer x-rays between hospitals
so that an x-ray taken in one hospital can be read seconds later by
a diagnostician hundreds or thousands of kilometers away. This could
keep services in a local area even during a personnel shortage.
Other current network experiments include doctors at the
hospital reading blood pressure from a home using equipment
connected to a computer.
Q - What are some examples of
potential community connections?
A - The network will provide direct municipal access to shared
information and resources.
Indirectly, the local infrastructure will provide opportunities
for community wireless options.
Q - What part will the
telecommunications carriers play in this network?
A - Once the network has been completed, it is the vision of the
VCFN board to invite non-exclusive carrier access to the
network. Having the infrastructure in place will enhance the
business case for a variety of carriers to offer different
services to rural customers.
Q - Who is responsible for
this network?
A - The VCFN Board governs the network, making the policy
decisions. Internetworking Atlantic Inc. is responsible for the
marketing and management of the network.
Q - Do you have additional
network customers?
A – Yes, Mount Saint Vincent University and the Agriculture and Agri-Food
Canada – Atlantic
Food and Horticultural Research Centre in Kentville.
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