90% of Quebecers to have 100 Mbps internet by 2020, PLQ pledges

Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) leader Philippe Couillard is promising more than 90 per cent of the province’s population will have access to “ultra-high speed” broadband if his party is re-elected next month. The Liberals are pledging that by 2020, more than 90 per cent of Quebec residents will have access to Internet services of at least 100 Mbps download speeds and 20 Mbps upload. That’s double the speeds of the CRTC’s basic service minimum. Couillard also said at a campaign event Monday that all Quebecers will have access to high-speed internet services and cell service by 2020, regardless of where they live in the province. A party spokesperson didn’t respond by deadline to questions about what it considers high-speed internet access. Additionally, the PLQ said on its campaign website it would boost funding to the Quebec Branché rural broadband fund by another $200 million -- increasing the program’s total funding to $500 million. That program defines high-speed download speeds under the CRTC’s old standard of 5 Mbps, according to its website. Couillard said in a statement it is no longer acceptable that Quebecers "who have chosen to live in a remote area cannot have access to high-speed Internet and an effective cellular telephony network.” That promise came just a few days after the Coalition Avenir Quebec made a similar pledge toward improving connectivity. Late last week, CAQ leader François Legault promised $400 million in funding over four years to ensure all Quebecers have high-speed access by 2022. The CAQ press release didn’t define what it considers high speed. Legault said in a statement the extent of Quebec’s current Internet coverage is a “very clear illustration of the lack of ambition of the Liberals for the regions of Quebec.” Under attack for neglecting rural regions, the Liberals are also pledging to “accelerate” previously announced funding and appoint a minister of the regions, and to set up an office of digital infrastructure to oversee the connectivity projects. Quebecers go to the polls Oct. 1, in an election where public opinion polls are so far predicting a win by the right-leaning CAQ. Quebec Solidaire is meanwhile promising a public internet service provider (ISP) to guarantee internet access everywhere in the province and fight what it referred to in a press release as the province’s telecom “cartel.”

90% of Quebecers to have 100 Mbps internet by 2020, PLQ pledges

Brief | September 4, 2018

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90% of Quebecers to have 100 Mbps internet by 2020, PLQ pledges

Brief | September 4, 2018

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