Why is high-speed Internet becoming vital for rural residents of Alberta?

Why is high-speed Internet becoming vital for rural residents of Alberta?

As the whole world makes the shift towards high-speed internet due to the mandatory requirements of social distancing in the real world, many residents of rural communities in Alberta are feeling left behind. According to Caroline Randall, a resident of Twin Butte in Alberta, “it took us years to find a reliable internet connection that delivers not just unlimited data, but dependable high-speeds throughout the day”. She says “it is aggravating, knowing that your kids have friends with much more reliable internet connections just because they live in town.” Living in rural areas often means finding a good internet provider can be difficult.

To make matters worse, portable hubs do not deliver dependable connections in rural areas because the technology and infrastructure are antiquated. The promises made by internet providers using portable hubs are not always fulfilled because these devices rely on technology that is easily affected by varying weather conditions and the total traffic on the network. Internet speeds also get throttled due to data limits on portable hubs. This means that a typical user of a portable hub can expect a sudden drop in bandwidth once their data limit for the month is depleted.

Let’s look at the different aspects of life that are affected by the need for a good internet connection.

Healthcare

Healthcare will always be in demand irrespective of which era or where a person lives. The Internet plays a vital role in healthcare where medical professionals need access to the patient’s vital information to help them administer treatment. It is not always practical for the patient and the physician to be face-to-face just so that the doctor can administer treatment. Medical professionals can help save lives if the information is available to them in real-time instead of hours or maybe even days later.

It is not uncommon for doctors to seek out guidance or advice from peers in their field. Experienced medical professionals can help inexperienced medical practitioners learn from their experiences by giving them advice over the internet in different online medical forums. A stable and dependable internet connection can help professionals in the healthcare industry provide better service. A difference in the quality of internet service can make a difference in the life or death of a patient in the field of healthcare.

Education

There is a huge “digital divide” between students in different locations in Canada because of the variations in the natural landscape and climatic conditions. The performance of an internet connection using LTE technology, fiber optics, or satellite connection becomes apparent in the field of education.

A satellite connection will always be affected by the weather conditions regardless of what the satellite internet providers tell you. The speeds also might not be as reliable during peak usage times for satellite connections. Satellite providers have an advantage in rural areas in Canada because users often do not have any other internet provider to choose from.

Entertainment

Entertainment has become digital as well, with Canadians watching movies on Netflix, reading books online, or listening to music from a streaming service. People often turn to the internet as a source of entertainment after a long day’s work to help them relax and unwind.

Some people use the internet to socialize with their friends and family members who they cannot meet in person due to the restrictions of the pandemic.

Xplornet™ Internet

Xplornet is a Canadian coast-to-coast Internet provider focused on upgrading operations and services to facilitate connectivity in all regions within the country. Xplornet administers broadband, satellite, and LTE internet connections in rural and metropolitan areas all over Canada. Xplornet is constantly upgrading its connection speeds and coverage of LTE towers in rural areas of the country. Plus, they offer truly unlimited data on their internet packages.

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