In a deal announced Thursday, Calgary-based data and IP service provider Bell West Inc. has acquired installed optical fibre for the Alberta SuperNet.
Bell West, the prime contractor for the SuperNet, has purchased 240 kilometres of dark fibre located in southeastern Alberta from Monarch Fiber Ltd.
Alberta SuperNet is a Government of Alberta initiative to develop a province-wide high-capacity network link by 2004.
"This transaction is a key milestone in efforts to bring Alberta SuperNet to more than 180 libraries, schools, hospitals and provincial government offices in 24 communities in southeastern Alberta," said Randy Reynolds, president and CEO of Bell West, in a prepared statement. "It is also consistent with the Alberta SuperNet principle that calls for the use of existing infrastructure in the network, where feasible," Reynolds said.
The fibre will provide inter-exchange transport connectivity between Strathmore, Brooks and Medicine Hat, according to Bell. These communities fall within Alberta SuperNet's Base Area, the 2,500-kilometre backbone portion of the network linking together the province's 27 largest communities and in which Bell is investing $102 million to build.
Scheduled for activation in fall 2003, the fibre will carry Alberta SuperNet and Bell commercial telecommunications traffic. As part of the agreement, Monarch Fiber Inc. will provide network maintenance for a minimum of 20 years, Bell said.