North Superior Publishing

" We are committed to advance the technology of Northwestern Ontario, not just Thunder Bay. We were the first wireless networks that was built here. In 2006 we acquired Superior Wireless to create a robust network for Northwestern Ontario. At the beginning we were phones and then dial up and in 2000 high speed Internet. CDMA was technology started... in the 80's and in 2010 we introduced HSPA, which is a different technology on the wireless side. Our 430 employees focused on this new technology and created what I consider to be a world-class network here in Thunder Bay. We are looking at LT to be deployed this year, which is an extension of the HSPA network designed to ensure your data experience is as much as 4 times as fast as we have today. It is a more robust product." The technology in your industry has changed rapidly? " The technology moves quickly and requires a great deal of capital investment. We commit 15 to 17 % of our annual revenues to get reinvested in the company and that amounts to about $30 million every year. Coming from the pulp and paper industry I knew it could be expensive investments in that environment but when I came to Tbaytel I found it can be equally as expensive here. For example we had 20 cell towers 2 years ago and we now have over 55 in the urban area of Thunder Bay. We are really just trying to bring the capacity of the network to more citizens of Thunder Bay in this large geographic footprint. Thunder Bay is a spread out community that is unique because we are urban but you don't have to drive out more than 5 minutes to get to a rural area. We have to do our best to provide the best service everywhere. "An individual tower can be quite expensive. The tower we are currently building at Whitewater Golf Club is going to be very unique with a high tech look that might seem more like a sign. You will experience higher bars on your phone with it. These towers are very expensive based on their proximity to electric power and a fiber optic network that we often have to bring into those ...Read More