KENORA / Thunder Bay – BUSINESS – If you have used Tbaytel Fibre Internet you have experienced the speed difference from non-fibre Internet. That speed which has been in Thunder Bay is now going to be available in Kenora.
Tbaytel announced earlier today that the company is embarking on a regional expansion project in 2019 that will result in the completion of a brand new state-of-the-art fibre optic network in Kenora. The new network will allow Tbaytel to deliver a full suite of wired telecommunication services to Kenora customers – both business and residential – that includes high-speed Internet, landline telephone, security and TV.
“Tbaytel has been a dedicated wireless service provider in Kenora for well over a decade, so we are thrilled to now be working towards the goal of expanding our offering to provide a fully connected home or business experience to our customers here,” says Tbaytel president and CEO Dan Topatigh.
Once its fibre network is complete, Tbaytel will offer a selection of competitively priced service packages to meet customer needs that will be delivered through Tbaytel Fibre, providing virtually unlimited bandwidth directly to Kenora homes and businesses.
”When a community has access to fibre optic technology, the benefits can extend far beyond just the experience of the residents living there,” adds Topatigh. “Fibre can open communities to new opportunities by helping to build capacity, especially for regional municipalities or townships in northwestern Ontario. The benefit can span multiple sectors that include education, health care, social services, tourism and information technology, among others.”
Creating a diversified economy is one of the main principles outlined in the City of Kenora’s official plan. Kenora is maintaining and seeking opportunities for a strong, diversified economy that provides a wide range of employment opportunities for its residents, including youth, to withstand global market conditions and provide financial stability.
With the specific objective of developing Kenora as a centre of excellence for telecommunications, health care, industry, trade, commerce tourism and services throughout northwestern Ontario, Western Canada and the Midwestern United States, the addition of Tbaytel Fibre will help the City move forward in meeting this objective.
“In August 2016, Kenora’s Municipal Council finalized the actions required to meet the goals set out in our corporate strategic plan, Our Vision is 20/20. Once again, one of the top strategic priorities identified was to diversify the economy and grow Kenora’s industrial base,” says Mayor Daniel Reynard, City of Kenora. “Having a state-of-the-art fibre network will certainly benefit businesses and help grow the economy. Without continual growth and progress, a community becomes stationary. Innovation drives economic growth and through Tbaytel’s vision and investment in Kenora, our community will continue to grow and flourish.”
Donny B Home Entertainment Supercenter, who is Tbaytel’s local sales partner in Kenora, will be working closely with Tbaytel throughout the project to provide updates and assist customers with their new services once they become available.
Donny B has proudly been serving customers in Kenora with their electronic needs for more than 40 years, 12 of which have been in partnership with Tbaytel as a local mobility sales partner. In anticipation of the arrival of Tbaytel Fibre, the downtown Kenora location will be undergoing significant renovations.
“The fact that Tbaytel is making this type of investment in our community is very exciting news,” says Donny Beasant, president of Donny B Home Entertainment Supercenter. “In my mind, the most immediate impact that this project will have for our customers is the introduction of the region’s first five-product telecommunications bundle, available from a single provider, which will bring with it added convenience, better selection and excellent value.”
Since Tbaytel introduced mobility service to Kenora, the company has continued to expand wireless coverage and capacity through technology upgrades, new cellular sites and ongoing network enhancements. Tbaytel has also proudly supported a number of community events and charitable initiatives enjoyed by the entire community.
Tbaytel will complete the infrastructure development phase of the expansion project throughout 2019 with expected service delivery to customers in 2020. Further expansion to Keewatin is also planned to begin in 2020 following project completion in Kenora.
