CIK Telecom plots 10G broadband for Ontario through fiber network investment
Independent ISP CIK Telecom say it plans to provide 10-Gbps fiber internet services in the Markham area in Ontario, Canada, beginning this October 1. CIK says it has up to CAN$300 million earmarked for fiber infrastructure deployments in and around the York region in anticipation that the CRTC will lower wholesale rates and rule incumbents must refund overcharges retroactively to third-party internet providers incurred between April 2016 and the present as part of an imminent ruling on Telecom Order 2019-288.
CIK currently provides gigabit broadband via fiber to more than 40,000 condo units in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. The Markham project is underway; CIK estimates that “over thousands” of Markham residents will have access to its new fiber network when the first phase of the project as early as this August.
However, CIK executives say a favorable ruling from the CRTC would make such projects more appealing. “The current internet wholesale rates in Canada are way too expensive and unreasonable, which makes it very hard for third-party internet providers to be able to compete fairly and provide affordable internet plans to Canadians,” commented Jordan Deng, CEO of CIK Telecom. “We often have to sell without profits to attract customers, which leaves us with no money to invest in upgrading or building future infrastructure. We need more support from the CRTC.”
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Stephen Hardy | Editorial Director and Associate Publisher, Lightwave
Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.
Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.
He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, and more.
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