JUNE 2024 UPDATE
Momentum
Post to Facebook, Community Connections:
Update on City West Progress
Hornby Island High Speed, Fibre Optic, Internet Project
June 3, 2024
Have You "Signed for Service"?
Hornby's residents have shown strong interest in high-speed fiber optic internet. City West has been working diligently to meet expectations. The three main challenges for this project have been obtaining permits (from MOTI and Telus), the island's rocky geology, and its remote location, which affects workforce and supply access. Despite these challenges, 75% of Hornby's construction will be in-ground and 25% aerial (think Ford Cove Hill and the mountain). Areas set for aerial service are awaiting further information as applications for "shared pole" space are processed. Telus and Hydro control access to these poles, but they are legally obligated to share.
Critical Path for In-Ground Service
The in-ground "civil construction" work on main roads is nearing completion. The next steps include:
1. Placing Crews: Put lines in place.
2. Jetting: Fiber is jetted through the network.
3. Splicing Crews: Connect the network.
4. Drop Crews: Bring service from the main road to your home.
5. Installers: Install your home modem.
Want Service?
To get service, you need to complete the "dropping-in form," which gives crews legal access to work on your property. The next step is to "sign for service," which includes selecting your internet plan (pricing varies with speed), TV package, and phone line (VOIP).
Serviced Areas: Shingle Spit and Galleon
In areas where fiber has been "jetted" and splicing completed, there will be a coil at your driveway. If you have applied for service by "dropping-in," sales members can guide you through the "Sign for Service" process. Once these steps are completed, crews will bring service to the outside of your house. An appointment will then be scheduled for inside installation and activation. There are currently four installers "lighting up" homes. Depending on your needs, this appointment can take from 1.5 hours to half a day. Please be patient.
In Conclusion
The project continues at full speed with crews on-island working on all phases, from in-ground civil construction to final home installation. The timeline for completion continues to be challenging, somewhat depending on factors outside City West's control, such as terrain challenges, permitting, labor availability, ferry access, and weather conditions. What is significant, is that the company is committed to serving our Community. Your cooperation, including completing necessary forms and "signing for service," is crucial to keep the momentum going and ensure timely service to your home.
march 2024 UPDATE
Hornby Island: SERVICES COMING ON-STREAM
Some Questions that the Hornby Denman Internet Committee has been fielding:
FAQs
Q: I don’t want my router to have a wireless signal. Can I still get Internet?
A: Your router will be wired to our connection in your home with the option to have either (or both) a hardwired and wireless connection for your in-home devices. Upon request, our technicians can ensure that there is no wireless signal available in your home. In this instance, all devices needing access to the internet will have to be hardwired.
Q: Can I get your Internet without a router?
A: If you do not wish to have a CityWest router in your home, we can install an optical network terminal or “ONT.” This device will connect directly to the fibre-optic connection at your home (or business) and allow you to hardwire your devices to connect to the Internet. An ONT won’t be able to provide wireless services. If you wish to use your own router, you can connect it to the ONT, but CityWest will not be able to provide technical support for any customer-owned equipment.
Q: Do other customers in my neighbourhood use wireless Internet?
A: We cannot disclose the personal information of our customers, including who has an active CityWest subscription and which services they are utilizing.
Q. Modem vs Router - What's the difference?
A. Here is an interesting YouTube video on the difference between Modem and Routers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mad4kQ5835Y
Q. Why Are Fiber Optic Cables Better Than Copper?
A. Fibre optic cables are made of glass and can transmit data much faster than the alternative of copper cables. They are also more resistant to interference. Fibre optic cables can also carry more data than copper cables. Finally, fibre optic cables are much thinner than copper cables, which take up less space.
Fibre optic cables can transmit data much faster than copper cables. Fibre optic cables can transmit up to ten gigabits per second. This is because fibre optic cables transmit data as light, while copper cables transmit data as electricity. Since light travels much faster than electricity, data will travel faster through a fibre optic cable than a copper cable.
NOVEMBER 15, 2023 UPDATE
Hornby Island: Email directly to individual residents
Email to individuals, rom City West on November 15/23
Hornby Island Update
Last week, our team met with the Hornby & Denman Islands Internet Committee. They expressed that community members wanted to ensure they were contacted when they were able to sign up for services.
If you are receiving this e-mail, we have your contact information in our system! Once your address is ready for pre-sale, you will be notified by e-mail and phone. At that time, you will be able to sign up for CityWest fibre-optic Internet, TV, and phone services.
If you know someone who has not received this e-mail and is interested in CityWest services, simply have them visit www.citywest.ca/dropping-in and fill out the form on that page.
We are excited about the progress that has been made on Hornby Island, and to bring improved services soon.
Our Partnership with your Community
CityWest and the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) are included in a partnership agreement to deliver services on Denman Island and Hornby Island. A portion of the profits from services in your community will go back to the CVRD, providing a direct financial benefit to your community!
If you would like to learn more, please click here.
NOVEMBER 10, 2023 UPDATE
Hornby Island
November 10, 23
4 pm PST Teams Meeting
CITY WEST UPDATE
Attendees:
City West: Stephan, Colin Bell, Wes Eisses, Scott Simpson
Hornby Denman Internet Committee: John Grayson, John Wigle, Peter Spurr, Karen Ross
General Discussion:
Denman is expected to officially start “lighting up” on November 14th.
There has been an offer for 2 months of free service. The service is directly from the Vancouver Internet Exchange, via the subsea cable. Exciting times for rural and remote communities on the coast of B.C. (https://connectedcoast.ca/)
HORNBY:
o MoTI permits for Phase 3 and 4 have been issued.
o High Definition drone work is being done on these phases by City West. 360 degree view, linked to GPS locations, to help with MoTI communications.
o Priority is to get the coils off the road and protected for the winter. Translation: service to homes, work as they go. Would start from the landing site.
o For Hornby Island residents, we will prepare an e-mail mid-week to let people know that we have their information on file, and will contact them once their property is available for service. People should be alerted if they do not receive that email, then they should contact City West and get on the waiting list.
Quick Links
- To register for services visit www.citywest.ca/sign-up
- If your address is not ready for pre-sale, but you want to be contacted when its available, visit www.citywest.ca/dropping-in
(note: this is important, basically it will place you on the waiting list and be identified as a home owner to be contacted)
HORNBY CONNECTS
Additional Information
From City West, April 4, 2023
We are excited to announce that high-speed fibre optic internet construction has started on Hornby Island!You might see our build contractor, Summit Earth, in your neighbourhood. We want to clarify the details of our project and give an official update from CityWest.The team at Summit has just recently broken ground on construction and has made tremendous progress in completing a large section of underground work in the first phase of our build on the island's west side. We expect crews to continue building with this momentum as they progress in phase 1 and simultaneously begin some preliminary work in the second phase of our build in the north section of the island.Property owners may see fibre-optic drop connections being placed in the coming weeks on the west side of Hornby Island. To keep this project within budget and scope, CityWest will provide a drop of up to 80 metres for property owners who have signed up with CityWest. If your home or business is more than 80 metres from the road, one of our team members will contact you to discuss the cost of your drop before performing any work on your property.While the initial progress for our Hornby build is excellent, we are still waiting for a launch date for services at this time. The community will be launched in a phased approach,with customers coming online as we build throughout the island. There are also still network commissioning and activation activities that must be completed with the Connected Coast landing, which is the backbone for providing services on Hornby.Our team will provide updates as we progress with building our fibre-optic network. 2023 will be an exciting year, and we look forward to bringing Hornby Island a superior customer experience for many years to come. We are your partner in this exciting project.
SUMMIT CONNECT MARCH 23
