Project Highlights

Shortening the Path to Economic Growth

MBS Broadband Pilot Projects will enable residents and businesses to successfully become part of the new information-based economy, taking advantage of all the benefits offered by ICT, allowing them to compete with their urban-based counterparts.

Readiness Framework and Sustainability Model for Broadband

SNG's methodology provides a "gap analysis", or "SWOT analysis" to help communities assess their own strengths and weaknesses, and recommendations how to close gaps. Government officials now have a platform to conduct a needs assessment to identify areas where assistance may be required for broadband deployment. Specifically, areas of need can be identified and interventions can be more focused and cost-effective in deploying affordable broadband.

Broadband Planning and Economic Development

SNG has conducted ground-breaking studies in promoting sustainable community economic development using information and communication technologies.

Project Name

 Review of Community Broadband Pilot Projects

Client

 Ministry of Government Services, Government of Ontario, Canada.

Project

 Conducted a functional review of the three (3) pilot projects implemented in rural Eastern Ontario communities between 2005-2006. These projects were funded by the Ministry of Government Services. The purpose of the projects was to assist in the process of procuring and implementing broadband connectivity to their areas. (June 2006 – ongoing)

Results

 Developed functional models and created a set of lessons learned for future strategy development and broadband delivery in Ontario.
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Project Name

 Review of COBRA Broadband Pilot Projects

Client

 Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, Government of Ontario, Canada.

Project

 Conducted a functional review of the three (3) COBRA Broadband projects carried-out in Ontario between 2003-2005. These projects were funded by Ministry of Economic Development and Trade under the Connect Ontario Program. The purpose of the projects was to provide up to 50% funding to a non profit community organization to facilitate the deployment of broadband infrastructure to the area. (June 2006 – ongoing)

Results

 Developed functional models and created a set of lessons learned for future strategy development and broadband delivery in Ontario.
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Project Name

 Design and Pilot Implementation of the Community Access Project for Trinidad and Tobago

Client

 Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and IBM International, Ottawa, Canada. Project Office – Port of Spain, Trinidad.

Project

 Conducted on-site needs analysis of user groups, developed and coordinated implementation of pilot public information access centres and developed a roll-out strategy for national deployment. (March 2006 – ongoing)

Results

 Implemented pilots and developed plan for the general population to access the information and services needed for Trinidad and Tobago to become a knowledge-based society and achieving its goal of a developed country status by the year 2020.
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Project Name

 Ministry of Government Services, Broadband Pilot Projects

Client

 Ministry of Government Services, Government of Ontario, Canada.

Project

 Lead consultant team to provide expertise to local stakeholders and to facilitate process for procurement and implementation of broadband connectivity pilot projects in three (3) rural communities in Eastern Ontario. (January - May 2005)

Results

Tailored RFP and vendor selection processes, stakeholder project agreements, and self-sustaining business models for broadband service to the needs of three (3) communities that previously had no broadband connectivity. The pilot projects enhanced online government presence in rural/remote locations to enable access to citizens without the means or time to travel to urban centers, or those who are not connected to the internet at home (or work). The outcomes include: Bridging the "Digital Divide'; Increasing Online Participation in Citizen Engagement Activities; and informing the Ontario Government of the challenges and barriers for the adoption of ICT in key communities, such as rural/remote regions.

Reports:

Ministry of Government Services, Apsley Broadband Pilot Final Report

Ministry of Government Services, Kinmount Broadband Pilot Final Report

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Project Name

 Readiness Framework and Sustainability Model for Broadband

Client

 Industry Canada and Management Board Secretariat, Government of Ontario, Canada.

Project

 Lead consultant team to design and develop a Readiness Framework and Sustainability Model for information and communication technology (ICT) investments in communities across Canada, with particular emphasis on small rural, remote, Francophone, Northern, and Aboriginal communities. (January - March 2005)

Results

Identified issues and developed criteria for evaluating readiness and sustainability of community broadband investments. Developed a policy framework to inform government broadband initiatives across Canada as to:

  • which communities are served by market forces
  • which communities will need a "kick-start' investment to become self-sustaining
  • which communities will need ongoing subsidies as they will not be self-sustaining

Reports: options for viewing reports

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Project Name

 Return on Investment (ROI) Framework for Broadband

Client

 Management Board Secretariat, Government of Ontario, Canada.

Project

 Lead consultant team to design and develop a return on investment framework for cataloguing the benefits that may be forthcoming from a given ICT / broadband investment. (January - March 2005)

Results

 Tool used by client in policy development to characterize the nature of socio-economic impacts and estimate the return on investment (ROI) from investments in information and communication technologies (ICT) or broadband.
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