Internet for Nova Scotia Initiative

What is the current update including timelines?

Excellent progress has been made as the original goal of 95% coverage has been surpassed. To date, we currently have approximately 98.4% coverage with access to connections continuing to happen regularly. With the Satellite Internet Service Rebate, access is available to close to 100% of Nova Scotians.

While most projects are complete or substantially complete, remaining project areas have shifted into 2024 as result of added challenges including Post-Fiona restoration efforts, resulting in temporary shifts of resources by providers and partners from the overall project. This event, and more recent damage related to floods, hurricanes and wildfires, required resources to be redirected, and further impacted required make ready work. Winter and wind storms for example can also require crews to be relocated for repairs/bring essential services back online.

The types and volume of make ready work – which can include such items as pole inspection/replacements, additional tree trimming and permits to access areas - can vary and take additional time for all of the pieces to come together. There are also seasonal impacts such as weight restrictions on some roads and woodpeckers that damage poles.

Approximately 10,000 civic addresses (Bell) and 222 civic addresses (Eastlink) remain to be complete as of early 2024.

Build Nova Scotia continues to work closely with all partners to mitigate challenges in the project delivery wherever possible.

Project pages will be updated to reflect project changes, main reasons for any shifts, and periodic information as the remaining projects progress.

What is the coverage to date?

When the project started, there were approximately 103,000 underserved locations across the province. As of early April 2024, approximately 95,680 have access either through traditional Internet for Nova Scotia Initiative projects or the Satellite Internet Service Rebate Program. To date, we have approximately 98.4% coverage and close to 99.9% with satellite option.

The Internet for Nova Scotia Initiative has met, and exceeded, the original goal to bring high-speed internet to 95% of underserved homes and businesses.

What do these shifts look like?

Here is a snapshot look at where we were as of early April 2024.

• Approximately 103,000 underserved locations were identified at the project start.
• Approximately 95,600 homes and businesses have access to date.
• There were approximately 10,500 remaining underserved locations at the end of 2023.
• Locations that can't be reached via a land-based technology would have StarLink (high-speed satellite) as their option. The Satellite Rebate Program continues into 2024 and also provides an interim option for those in a current project area.

Addresses in some of these project areas already have access and the three month windows are anticipated for the overall project area. Individual addresses often have access before the full project area is complete. Approximately 10% of homes and businesses remain in terms of gaining access to fibre/wired service through announced projects.

What are the steps to complete a fibre/wired project?

The steps to complete a fibre/wired project include-

• Milestone 1 – Network transport, edge and power planning, field scoping, detailed designs, work order issuance, equipment procurement.

• Milestone 2 – Hydro Make Ready activities (tree trimming, pole replacement, etc.) and any permits that need to be secured to construct the fibre.

• Milestone 3 – Fibre installation, equipment placement, fibre splicing, testing, core network installation and commissioning.

• Milestone 4 (Service Ready for Nova Scotians) – Uploading customer records into service qualification database, all final work, service launch.