Newmarket moves forward on ground breaking broadband network

Request for Proposal for Internet Service Provider underway

NEWMARKET, ON, Jan. 21, 2015 /CNW/ - The Town of Newmarket has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) seeking Internet Service Providers (ISP's) to create an implementation strategy for an ultra high-speed broadband network. Interested ISP's will partner with Newmarket to help achieve the Town's objective of increasing economic development through greater access to ultrafast internet connection.

"A robust high-speed broadband infrastructure is as important to our economic future as rivers, railways and roads were to our past," said Newmarket Mayor Tony Van Bynen. "To be ready for the jobs of tomorrow, we must be able to keep up with rapidly changing information technology and the demands of an increasingly connected world."

The RFP seeks a partner that will invest in the design, construction, ownership and operation of an open access, ultra high-speed broadband infrastructure at affordable rates for residents, businesses and organizations. An interconnected corridor has been identified for the initial phase of this pilot project.

"The Town of Newmarket's vision is to become a connected community that fosters innovation to support smart and sustainable planning, growth and economic development," said Susan Chase, Director, IT Innovations. "This type of advanced broadband network will be one of the first of its kind in Canada. This will give Newmarket a significant strategic advantage by enabling internet connections faster than the average high-speed connection."

The RFP is currently open and will close on January 29, 2015. Please visit www.newmarket.ca and click on 'Bid Opportunities', found under Quicklinks for more details.

Background
A Gigabit Community is an initiative that seeks to accelerate the entrepreneurial and innovation process as a pathway to economic development through increased bandwidth, open data and cloud services. The Town of Newmarket has worked closely with David Sandel and Associates, key thought leaders behind the American Gigabit model. Gigabit City initiatives have proven to be successful in the United States and were recently promoted by American President Barack Obama. Other nations currently implementing Gigabit infrastructure include Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, Korea and France.

The Town of Newmarket is located in southern Ontario and is home to over 85,000 residents. Newmarket has consistently been named one of the Best Places to Live in Canada by MoneySense Magazine and has garnered an international reputation for being one of the country's most dynamic, diverse and desirable towns to live and work in. Newmarket is also widely considered a progressive place with a reputation for innovation, particularly in its environmental projects. For more information on The Town of Newmarket, visit www.newmarket.ca

SOURCE Town of Newmarket

Amber Chard, Senior Communications Officer, Corporate Communications, Tel: [phone], ext. 2046, Email: [email protected]