With its innovative Rural Internet Access Program, the County enhanced internet access in hard-to-reach areas by adding 22 new local internet towers, and upgrading many more, to boost signal reach.

Through this three-year program, the County offered incentives to internet service providers (ISPs) to install smaller internet towers in areas where there were gaps in service. The new towers - owned and maintained by the ISPs - act as a bridge between households and larger infrastructure towers, bringing high-speed internet access to areas that are without. Local ISPs worked directly with landowners to install towers in areas designated by the County.

Tower locations

Thanks to the Rural Internet Access Program, internet towers have been installed and are operational, providing service to the following rural subdivisions and surrounding areas:

Map of internet tower locations (2.6 MB)

• Antler Lake Community Hall - MCSNet
• Antler Meadows - Syban
• Belvedere Heights East - MCSNet
• Belvedere Heights West - MCSNet
• Best Estates - MCSNet
• Birch Park Estates - MCSNet
• Brecken Woods - MCSNet
• Bristol Estates - Syban
• Camelot Square - MCSNet
• Casswallen Crescent Acres - MCSNet
• Century Estates - Syban
• Century Meadows - Syban
• Colchester Lane -  MCSNet
• Collingwood Cove* - MCSNet
• Colonial - MCSNet
• Donaldson Park - MCSNet
• Farrell Properties - Syban
• Forest Hills Country Estates - MCSNet
• Galloway Park - MCSNet
• Glenwood Park Estates - MCSNet
• Hansen Estates -  MCSNet
• Hyland Hills – Syban
• Jaymoor - Syban
• Lina Country Estates - MCSNet
• Los Villas – Syban
• Lueders Ridge - Syban
• Lynley Ridge - MCSNet
• Mark IV Estates - Syban
• Marvin Gardens - MCSNet
• McConnell Estates - Syban
• Meadowbrook Heights - MCSNet
• North Cooking Lake / Deville Community Hall - MCSNet
• Parklane Estates - MCSNet
• Paso Valley Estates - MSCNet
• Patricia Glen - Syban
• Phoa Subdivision - MCSNet
• Portas Gardens - MSCNet
• Queensdale Place (North and South) - Syban
• Richlyn Estates - Syban
• Roman Estates – Syban
• Royal Estates - MCSNet
• Shady Lanes  - MCSNet
• Trans Oak Estates - MCSNet
• Trevethick Park - MCSNet
• Twin Island Park – Syban
• Verden Place - Syban
• Wellington Estates - MCSNet
• Wildwood Village - MCSNet
• Willow Road - MCSNet
• Woodland Downs - MCSNet
• Wye Knott Village - MCSNet

(*now fibre-backhauled)

Equipment upgrades and improvements to existing towers have enhanced internet service, as well as extended service to additional residents, in the following areas:

• Artesian Estates - MCSNet
• Baronwood - Syban
• Calebo Estates - MCSNet
• Cooking Lake South* - MCSNet
• Croftland Subdivision - MCSNet
• Deer Horn Estates - MCSNet
• Dowling Estates - MCSNet
• Fultonvale* - MCSNet
• Gray Drive - MCSNet
• Gunmanor Estates* - MCSNet
• Half Moon Lake South* - MCSNet
• Josephburg* - MCSNet
• Lincoln Green* - MCSNet 
• Marler Subdivision - MCSNet
• Midway Estates* - MCSNet
• Ministik* - MCSNet
• Northern Bear* - MCSNet
• Parker Ridge - MCSNet
• Parkwood Place - MCSNet
• Partridge Hill area - MCSNet
• Pine Grove Acres - MCSNet
• Sierra Grande Estates - MCSNet
• Springhill Park - MCSNet
• Spruce Bend Acres - MCSNet
• Tanglewood - Syban
• Uncas RR212 - MCSNet
• Uncas RR213/Hwy630* - MCSNet
• Voyageur Estates - MCSNet
• Westpark Estates - MCSNet

(*now fibre-backhauled)

Project timeline

2015

• Program research, plan and design
• County works with local ISPs, and gathers feedback from residents, to identify areas where internet access is unsatisfactory

2016-2017

• Information sessions throughout rural Strathcona County to share information about the program, and gather feedback from residents
• Installation of internet towers, on a priority basis, throughout rural Strathcona County; all towers are expected to be installed by end of 2017

2018

• Complete free public access installations at Community Halls
• Develop program sustainment plan

Partnership with Strathcona County Library

The County partnered with Strathcona County Library to install internet towers near rural community halls where internet access was unsatisfactory. This was made possible through the Library’s Bookmobile sponsor, Shell Canada Ltd. Thanks to this initiative, visitors are now able to enjoy unlimited free internet access at all community hall facilities in the County.

Bookmobile Library patrons can access the Library’s entire suite of digital content and programming (such as eBooks, and downloadable music and movies), and are able to log into their accounts in real time. 

Common questions

Further information