Communications

Advanced Communications

Telecommunications infrastructure matches or exceeds that available elsewhere in North America in terms of lines with digital switching capabilities, advanced signaling technology and wireless hotspots popping up in strategic locations. The local network is 100% digital with an extensive fibre network and wireless capabilities throughout the Region.

Local communication providers include companies that compete on a global scale (including Bell, Rogers and Sprint) and can supply a full range of communication services. Bandwidths range from ISDN to OC 3 using both copper and fibre infrastructure. Services include xDSL, Frame Relay and ATM. This wide range of services can support data, voice, wireless and video applications which are the typical requirements for desktop multimedia linkages.

All major carriers provide fully redundant services from their clients to their central offices.
Major carriers can provide 100% digital fibre networks to most business locations.
Broadband communications capabilities are available. Both Bell and Rogers can provide ATM services to the Canadian Broadband Backbone.
ISDN including both BRI and PRI services are available throughout the area.
Full cellular capabilities including both digital and analogue services are available from several carriers, including Bell, Rogers, Clearnet and MCI.
Several partnerships in the area have established wireless (WiFi) hotspots; designated areas where internet and information transfer are support wireless communications devices.

Atria Networks

Atria Networks Inc. is a local telecommunications carrier offering data solutions and Internet connectivity at speeds up to 1000 Mbps. Atria’s 1000 km, state-of-the-art fibre-optic network spans a broad contiguous area throughout the region of Waterloo, Guelph and surrounding townships. Atria’s local loop winds through all business centres, providing network solutions for local area networks, remote access, Internet VPNs, high-speed Internet access, off-site data storage, Wi-FI Zones and other wireless applications. Atria’s infrastructure also supports IP collaboration technologies such as VoIP, and video streaming. Atria’s system is completely fibre-optic based from the demarcation point in the customer premise, through the entire system. This allows Atria to guarantee data speeds; not just short-term burstable bandwidth with distance-sensitive limitations. The existing fibre network also features full disaster recovery.

WREPNet

The Waterloo Region Education and Public Network (WREPNET) utilizes Atria’s capabilities to implement a high-speed, fibre-optic community network that gives public sector organizations access to the latest technology. More than 200 sites, including all schools, Conestoga College, libraries and municipal government offices, are now fibre-optic wired, creating a huge community network.

Data Centre Commercial Server Fortress

Since 2003, in an alliance with Atria, eSolutions Group (a subsidiary of Conestoga-Rovers and Associates) provides the safe, secure and reliable infrastructure required by many enterprises for their networking operations. Supported by the expertise of their experienced IT Group, eSolutions offers the dependability that many customers are looking for—at an attractive cost. The facility is equipped to handle threats to system integrity and ensure data won’t be lost. The Server Fortress offers:

Full backup power conditioning
Customer control and visibility
24 x 365 monitoring and maintenance
Advanced fire suppression
High Internet availability
Access to experts in Information Technology
Full security
Scalable infrastructure
Climate control

Ontario Technology Network

One of the most extensive telecommunication networks in North America
A highly integrated telecommunications network including:
The largest “free Calling” area in North America (416/647/289/905)
100% Digital Telecom Infrastructure
High speed data services
Internet connectivity
Private lines
e-business services

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