It took 20 years and the efforts of at least four consecutive governments to get there, but it seems all Quebecers who want it will be able to connect to high-speed Internet by Sept. 30, a few days before the next election. general. It is also a promise in the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) elections in 2018, a promise that will have weight in gold.
Radio-Canada has compiled data related to the funding of Éclair I, II and III programs to continue the connection of the entire territory. In total, taxpayers in Quebec alone have invested $ 1.3 billion to connect just under 250,000 customers. Add to that the more than $ 450 million that Ottawa has invested.
To honor his commitment to a first term, Prime Minister Legault made no effort. There are many examples of customers connected individually at high prices, with amounts invested often in excess of $ 10,000 per dwelling and sometimes as high as $ 25,000 for a single customer.
This is a godsend for some companies. Bell, for example, received $ 1 million for safe service to homes already served in the Magdalen Islands. Along with Cogeco, Videotron and Telus, it is one of the companies that received the largest share of investments.
These players are also invested in the operation, but at levels lower than the federal and provincial governments. For example, in Bas-Saint-Laurent, the share of companies is $ 3 million out of the $ 29 million needed to connect with new customers.
Elon Musk as backup
According to our information, in addition to the major telecommunications companies present in Quebec, the commitment of CAQ will benefit a prominent figure in international high finance: Elon Musk.
The Prime Minister’s parliamentary assistant, who is also responsible for the Internet file, Gilles Bélanger, was due to announce on Monday at a press conference that the government is relying on the Starlink satellite constellation, a SpaceX-owned one, to complete the connection .
During the study of budget allocations, he confirmed that 180,000 to 190,000 households have not yet been serviced, but close by, at the rate of 30,000 connections per month.
This leaves 8,000 so-called households orphans, that the connection would be too expensive in the traditional way, according to a source. But these customers will not be left to their fate: Quebec must provide them with equipment, including the dome, to connect to the new Twitter owner’s satellite network.
The household must then assume at least part of the monthly subscription, in order to have access to an equivalent service, and at the same price, as it would receive in an urban environment.
Quebec ahead
During his announcement Monday, Gilles Bélanger, MP for Orford, should also reveal an interactive map to allow Quebecers to measure the project’s progress.
Thus it will be possible to know where are the places where access to the high-speed network is still difficult and where are the last homes of orphans.
Despite the enormous investment and work to be done, Premier François Legault has already seen in the operation a reason to celebrate. It’s interesting to say that as we speak, 94%of us are connected to Quebec, while Ontario is 88%, and Alberta, 87%.
On the parliamentary committee, he was pleased that Quebec had become the leader in high-speed connections with Canada.
A necessary investment
For the president of the Union of Quebec Municipalities, Jacques Demers, there is no doubt that the game is worth the candle.
” Tell me what price it took to stop plugging? There was a time when there was electricity in Quebec; we didn’t stop because a farm was two kilometers away. “
Not only was it a matter of fairness for him, in a Quebec that decided to take over its regions, but he pointed out that this connection would also have positive economic cycles.
In collaboration with Hugo Lavallée
Source: Radio-Canada